MDC-Zanu (PF) sign new deal

a new draft constitution, revise media and security laws and set up a truly independent electoral commission.
After marathon talks held on a houseboat on Lake Kariba, South African negotiators convinced the MDC and Zanu (PF) protagonists to agree to a draft constitution panel-beaten by top Zimbabwean lawyers Sternford Moyo, former president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Selby Hwacha, Harrison Nkomo and Nokuthula Moyo.
The final draft is due to be presented to President Robert Mugabe by October 30 and introduced in Parliament in December.
Sources close to the deal acknowledge that the timetable appears ambitious.
Saturday’s marathon meeting was attended by MDC (Tsvangirai) secretary general Tendai Biti and his opposite number in the MDC (Mutambara), Welshman Ncube. The ruling party was represented by Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and Social Welfare minister Nicholas Goche.
The Zimbabwean learnt that the talks were chaired by SA’s Provincial and Local Government Minister, Sydney Mufamadi, who was assisted by director-general in the Presidency, Rev Frank Chikane; and Mbeki’s legal adviser, Mujanku Gumbi.
Both MDC officials and Chinamasa this week staunchly declined to discuss details of their Saturday engagement. SA ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mlungisi Makhalima, was not available for comment, and an embassy official said no official comment could be made because of the blanket media blackout imposed by President Thabo Mbeki.
Impeccable sources said the 2008 harmonised vote would be held under the aegis of Constitutional Amendment No. 18 (CA18), assented to by the MDC two weeks ago as part of confidence-building measures to wring from the ruling party a review of repressive security legislation and the cessation of violence against opposition activists by the state.
CA 18 sets out a framework for holding the combined presidential, parliamentary and local elections planned for next year, by cutting short the present legislature’s life by two years and reducing the president’s term in office from the current six years to five.
Once President Mugabe gives his assent and the bill becomes law, it will expand the House of Assembly from 150 to 210 seats, and the upper house or Senate from 66 to 93, by redrawing constituency boundaries.
Sources told The Zimbabwean that Zanu (PF) representatives were forced by the SA mediators to issue tentative assurances that they would hurriedly move to tackle the Electoral Act, the Public Order and Security Act, and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
In return, Zanu (PF) wanted assurances that the MDC would approach its “European handlers” and call off “declared and undeclared sanctions on Zimbabwe,” which they contend are responsible for the sharp economic decline.
The Kariba deal was hailed as a breakthrough for Zimbabwe’s political opposition, but analysts cautioned that the concessions made by the ruling party were mundane in the wider political context, and queried whether Mugabe could be trusted to keep his word, as he has failed numerous times in the past to match promises made at international forums with action at home.