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(NEWZIMBABWE) Call referendum, PM challenges Mugabe

Call referendum, PM challenges Mugabe
08/09/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

MDC-T leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai plans to challenge President Robert Mugabe Monday to take the stalled draft constitution to a referendum, insisting Zanu PF can campaign for a ‘No’ vote if it has reservations over the document.

Launching his party’s campaign for a ‘Yes Vote’ in the planned referendum on the draft new constitution in Harare Saturday, Tsvangirai said he would use Monday's routine meeting of the GPA principals to press Mugabe to call a referendum on the contested document.

The constitutional reform process is effectively stalled after the MDC parties rejected Zanu PF’s amendments to the Copac draft which was released in July.

The MDCs want the regional SADC grouping to intervene and help break the deadlock but Zanu PF says GPA principals, Mugabe, Tsvangirai and MDC leader Welshman Ncube should meet and come to a compromise over its amendments.

But Tsvangirai told MDC-T supporters gathered for the launch at the Harare Show Grounds that three individuals could not, between them, be allowed to determine the future of the whole country.

“For three people to determine what is best for this country is improper and I will not be part of that. The way forward is that on Monday, I will meet Robert Mugabe and I have a few words,” he said.

“I am done with the Constitution-making process, let’s go forward. Let the Speaker of the House of Parliament (Lovemore Moyo) organise an All Stakeholder Conference and the Referendum leading to the holding of free and fair elections.”

The MDC-T leader accused Zanu PF of going back on agreements reached between the parties during negotiations over the Copac draft.

“This is not an MDC-T document, Zanu PF negotiators (Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche) were there; even Mugabe was also there but now there want to change everything saying Tsvangirai, Mugabe and Ncube will discuss the issue,” the MDC-T leader.
“So we are meeting on Monday and I will only have one word for Mugabe, 'Uko takatopfuura uko handei mberi. Ini ipapo handipo. Ini handiko (We are through with negotiations; I will not be part of any new talks. let’s take the process forward)'.

“If Zanu PF feels there are issues they are not comfortable with they should campaign for a ‘No Vote’ and we will campaign for a ‘Yes Vote’ and see who wins. We should move on to the next phase which involves the parliament, the second all stakeholders’ conference, a referendum and then free and fair elections.”

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The MDC parties have since endorsed the Copac draft but Zanu PF is demanding amendments which the party says align the document with views expressed by members of the public.

Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete has already indicated the regional SADC grouping’s Troika, which deals with peace and security issues, would discuss the stalemate at its next meeting in October.

The regional block helped facilitate the formation of the coalition government after violent but inconclusive elections in 2008 and has been helping the GPA parties negotiate a so-called roadmap to new polls that are now expected next year.

The new constitution is part of a raft of political reforms the MDC parties have been hoping would help ensure free and fair elections.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, COPAC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, ROBERT MUGABE

posted by MrK @ 4:07 PM