Mbeki mediation in tatters

elections.
Despite receiving a document from Mbeki’s emissary last month detailing the opposition MDC’s demands for a new constitution before SA-brokered talks resume, Mugabe last week went ahead with further amendments to the constitution, a move that observers said betrayed his reluctance to compromise on demands for a new democratic constitution.
SA deputy Foreign Affairs minister Aziz Pahad said at the weekend Mugabe’s latest move smacked of arrogance and urged robust action to rein him in and force reform.
Pahad expressed concern about “the lack of urgency by the Zimbabweans,” adding Mbeki should move with speed if he was going to report on any progress at a meeting of SADC heads of state scheduled for end of June.
Constitutional amendment No. 18, which among other things sets up a controversial human rights commission, and offers the legal framework for electoral theft strategies that will be employed by government next year, is set to be introduced in Parliament on July 9.
The constitutional amendment was gazetted a day after Labour minister Nicholas Goche and Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa boycotted a scheduled meeting in Pretoria between opposition deputies Tendai Biti and Prof Welshman Ncube of the two MDC wings. Goche gave an excuse that he was tied up with the International Labour Organisation business in, Switzerland while Chinamasa simply unplugged his landline and switched off his cell phone.
Political analysts said Mugabe sees Mbeki’s SADC mediation as an utter nuisance which could become dangerous if allowed to linger for too long.
The amendment will shorten the term of office of the President from six to five years and make it run concurrently with the life of Parliament. If the president dies in office or resigns, an electoral college will elect his successor. Under the present conditions, a presidential election must be held in 90 days to replace a dead president.
The amendment also increases the composition of the Senate and the House of Assembly and changes the mandate of the Delimitation Commission, which divides constituency boundaries.