(NEWZIMBABWE) Madhuku a Mugabe fanatic: MDC-T

Madhuku a Mugabe fanatic: MDC-T
21/11/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party launched an astonishing attack on NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku on Wednesday, accusing the constitutional law expert of being a fanatic of President Robert Mugabe. The MDC-T reacted angrily to Madhuku’s criticism of its leader over the stalled process to write a new constitution for Zimbabwe.

Madhuku, speaking at a conference for church leaders in Harare last Friday, had suggested Tsvangirai’s handling of the impasse was “childish”. He said the two MDC factions were being outflanked by Mugabe who had approached the issue with the “highest level of sophistication and intelligence”.

But in a statement, the MDC said Madhuku – whose NCA is opposed to a political party-led constitution – was “simply confused”.

“It is one thing for Professor Madhuku to constructively criticise our president and it is another thing to hurl empty insults at president Tsvangirai as if someone is on a Zanu PF payroll,” the party said.

“It is regrettable that Professor Madhuku does not seem to appreciate this impeccable reasoning on the part of president Tsvangirai. It is even more astounding that Madhuku does not appreciate the very positive achievements in this constitution.

“Maybe this is because he rejected this document before it was even written. This, in our view is a serious misinterpretation of the processes guiding the constitution making. The professor’s judgment is seriously impaired by his fanaticism on Mugabe and is indeed misguided.”

The three main parties in Zimbabwe’s coalition government are split on how to proceed with the new constitution following the release of the first draft in July.

A conference held in Harare last month recommended amendments to the draft, but the parties could not agree on the changes, with the MDC factions saying the draft should go as is to Parliament while Zanu PF has taken the position that the principals – leaders of the coalition parties – should sit and make amendments.

The Global Political Agreement, the pact underpinning the coalition, says all three parties must agree on the draft before taking it forward to a referendum, but such an agreement looks unlikely.

Madhuku said last Friday: “There is likely going to be a stalemate and, as usual, the MDC card is to blame Mugabe. A time will come when Mugabe says, ‘They have blamed me enough and this is how things are supposed to be done: going to elections under the current constitution!’

“Look at them (Zanu PF), what they have done. After the release of the draft constitution in July, the MDC said the document must be taken to the Second All-Stakeholders’ Conference and Zanu PF came up with its amendments.

"During the stakeholders’ conference, the MDC told its delegates that on every sentence they should say, ‘as it is’. On the other hand, Zanu PF pushed its amendments through. They will say the delegates have said it, who are you not to accept what the delegates have said? That is the highest level of sophistication and intelligence on the part of Zanu PF whether we like it or not."

But the MDC-T says the correct course is to keep the constitution a parliamentary process “in which principals must play a minimalist and largely facilitative role” – although this stance has so far stalled the project.

“In terms of the Global Political Agreement, COPAC must submit its draft and report to parliament. Only then can the executive through the Minister for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs get seized of the document in preparation for the referendum. Any changes to this process are tantamount to rewriting the Global Political Agreement,” the party said.