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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) Madhuku blasts Tsvangirai

Madhuku blasts Tsvangirai
Sunday, 18 November 2012 00:00
Sunday Mail Reporters

National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku has criticised Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for blaming President Mugabe and Zanu-PF for supposedly hampering the smooth flow of the constitution-making process, saying all national leaders should take full responsibility for political processes in the country.

Addressing church ministers on constitution-making in Harare last Friday, Prof Madhuku said it was morally wrong for the MDC-T leader to absolve himself and his party from challenges that might beset the country while heaping the blame on President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

He said Mr Tsvangirai demonstrated "childishness" following disagreements over the Draft constitution. Prof Madhuku’s remarks came as the Prime Minister told MDC-T supporters at a rally at Murambinda Growth Point in Buhera yesterday that he was not going to meet President Mugabe over the Draft constitution.

He said the document should go straight to Parliament.

"I cannot sit down with (President) Mugabe to discuss the constitution. No, it should go to Parliament not to Tsvangirai and Mugabe," he said.
"When the referendum comes we are saying vote yes. Those who oppose this Draft with all its improvements are sending us back to Rhodesia.
This constitution is good but it is not perfect. It is not excellent."

Prof Madhuku on Friday said Zanu-PF is a sophisticated party with a lot of experience and intelligence.

He said President Mugabe would be justified to call for elections under the existing constitution if the writing of the new supreme law falls through.

"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!’" he said.

". . . 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."

The University of Zimbabwe law lecturer said national elections were inevitable.

"There is no doubt that elections are due next year. . .Elections are definite because it is dangerous to extend the mandate of this inclusive Government," he said.

Meanwhile, the Constitution Select Committee (Copac) says Zimbabwe will most likely hold its long overdue referendum on whether to stick with the Lancaster House Constitution or replace the Copac Draft in January next year.

In separate interviews, Copac co-chairs expressed doubt at the possibility of holding the referendum before the end of the year.
MDC-T co-chair Mr Douglas Mwonzora said it was now impossible for the negotiators to finalise the Draft constitution for it to be presented to Parliament.

"The referendum is not possible because the year is about to come to an end. We still have to reach a stage of presenting the Draft to parliament before we go to a referendum. Because of all this, I believe it will only be reasonable to have a referendum in January," said Mr Mwonzora.

Mr Mwonzora said that the Second All-stakeholders’ Conference report has been released and reveals that the delegates that scrutinised the Copac Draft constitution were a divided lot — a clear sign that there is still a long way to go before a resolution is reached.

"The January date which I believe is very possible, depends on the political will of the political parties. The report of the Second All-stakeholders Conference shows that there was no unanimity to the wholesale changes to the constitution.

"We first have to achieve unanimity and that will take time. After we are unanimous, we will take the Draft to Parliament. After Parliament then we can go to a referendum," said Mr Mwonzora.

Zanu-PF Copac co-chair Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana believes that a referendum can only be achievable this year if the Draft constitution deadlock is broken within a reasonable timeframe.

"I remain optimistic, but a lot depends on how soon we will be able to break the deadlock. We need to speedily resolve all the sticking issues that have created this impasse. If we get over that then we can hold a referendum.

"My belief is that taking the document to Parliament would be a formality because Parliament is made up of the political parties that are pushing for a new constitution. If it becomes late for a referendum this year then I am confident that we will have it in January," said Cde Mangwana.

MDC co-chair Mr Edward Mkhosi refused to comment, saying he was attending to a personal engagement.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, COPAC, LOVEMORE MADHUKU, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 2:36 AM