The MDC and ZANU PF parties, who entered into a coalition government 4 months ago, are heading for a potential clash over the framework for a new constitution. Robert Mugabe has told his ZANU PF Central Committee this week that the inclusive government will come up with a new constitution, in line with the widely criticized Kariba Draft document.On Tuesday the MDC however issued a statement saying they will reject any attempts to have this draft adopted as a roadmap. The MDC believes in a truly people-driven constitution-making process where the unfettered will of the people must be reflected, their statement read.
Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa reports that a provincial all-stakeholders conference was held in Harare on Wednesday at the Rainbow Towers hotel in the morning. Present was Masvingo MP Tongai Matutu the Chairman of the House Legal and Procedural Committee in Parliament and Nyanga North MP and lawyer Douglas Mwonzora, among others. Representatives from civil society, students, churches and labour unions were also there. But Muchemwa says top officials from the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) boycotted the meeting, although they sent representatives to observe proceedings.
Under the process, a series of provincial hearings will lead up to a National All-stakeholders Conference in July this year. After that 70 teams from each province will hold 3 meetings per ward and come up with reports that are forwarded to what is called a provincial thematic committee. This committee will then forward its recommendations to the parliamentary team. A draft constitution is expected in February 2010 and a further month will pass while it is debated. A referendum is expected to be conducted 3 months after the debate is over, meaning a new constitution is only likely some time in July 2010.
Groups like the NCA and the recently launched Democratic United Front (DUF) are opposing this parliament controlled process. DUF for example was distributing pamphlets in Harare during the stakeholders conference, accusing MPs of abusing the Global Political Agreement and its provisions, to marginalize ordinary people. Mike Sambo, the national coordinator, told Newsreel there are many parties and interest groups who are not in parliament and their views will not find a voice under the current process. He said they want the new constitution to address social and economic rights including what he called attacks on the working class. The group says it will participate in the process but under protest.
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