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(NEWZIMBABWE) MDC-99, NCA close ranks over constitution

MDC-99, NCA close ranks over constitution
08/08/2012 00:00:00
by Jeffrey Moyo

THE Job Sikhala-led MDC-99 closed ranks with the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) to dismiss the country’s draft constitution as the work of politicians, and not the people as the document purports.

Sikhala said: “The protagonists who have been participating in the writing of the constitution have stated that the draft came out as a result of negotiations between the three political parties in the inclusive government.


“So if this thing has been a negotiated document, it means that this is not the constitution that belongs to the people of Zimbabwe, it is a three-party document which they agreed among themselves to be a document which they think represented the views of the people of Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe’s draft constitution – three years in the works – appeared stalled early last month following disagreements between the three parties over various provisions.

In the end, the document was sent to the parties’ negotiators who also led the power sharing talks in 2008 to smooth over the cracks.

NCA leader Lovemore Madhuku, whose organisation has campaigned since 2000 for a “people-driven constitution”, said the draft constitution was flawed.

Madhuku said the Parliamentary Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) which steered the constitutional reform had failed in its public duty, citing the failure to make publicly-available a so-called “national report” which acted as a guide to the drafters following nationwide public consultations.

Madhuku said on Tuesday: “We have made it very clear that we will not accept the new constitution. Where is the national report? It was expected to be there before the draft and at the moment we were supposed to be analysing what the people said and how it was incorporated into the draft but procedure was flouted and this is not acceptable.”

Sikhala and Madhuku – speaking seperately – also voiced opposition to a provision that would increase the number of MPs to 250 from the current 210 to accommodate more women. Both men say the parties could have achieved gender balancing without the need to create 30 more special seats for women.

“We don’t expect the return of a bloated parliament in our country; we already spend 73 percent of our budget on public sector pay,” Sikhala said.

The combative MDC-99 leader denied suggestions that his party was supporting Zanu PF, which is demanding amendments to the draft.

“Actually 85 percent of the draft’s content is supportive of Zanu PF ideas,” Sikhala said.

“This is a product of Zanu PF’s incestuous relationship with the other MDC formations.”

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party and the Welshman Ncube-led MDC have both resolved to back the new constitution while insisting that they will block Zanu PF attempts to renegotiate certain clauses.

Zanu PF’s politburo meets in Harare on Wednesday night – the third such meeting – to try and come up with a position on the draft.

Zanu PF claims the drafters deviated from the "national report", further slowing down a process which has consumed over US$40 million.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, COPAC, JOB SIKHALA, LOVEMORE MADHUKU, MDC FACTIONS

posted by MrK @ 3:13 PM