The draft, signed by negotiators who represented all the political parties, was understood to be the final version that would be considered by the principals in government, before a parliamentary vote to make it law.
The MDC formations adopted the draft last week but ZANU PF’s decision making politburo failed to agree on a position after four marathon meetings. A fifth meeting held this week Thursday finally decided on the amendments the party will demand from their coalition partners.
According to the ZANU PF mouthpiece Herald newspaper, ZANU PF is pleased that the constitution “explicitly outlaws homosexuality and same-sex marriages among other things”. But ZANU PF want several changes.
“We say no to the issues of running mates and want Vice Presidents to be appointed,” party spokesman Rugare Gumbo is quoted as saying. This was in response to a clause in the draft charter that required Presidential candidates to select two vice presidents who would run for office with them.
The Herald said ZANU PF is also against the creation of a national prosecuting authority, fearing this would dilute the powers of the Attorney General. “The office of the AG has to be retained and we say no to the national prosecuting authority,” the Herald quotes Gumbo as saying.
According to The Herald the revised version will now be handed over to the principals “for guidance on the way forward”. But the other principals, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC-N President Welshman Ncube, have made it clear the draft is final and needs to go to a referendum so the people can decide.
MDC-N spokesman Nhlanhla Dube told SW Radio Africa that the time for political negotiations is over. Dube said the party position is that Zimbabweans must go to a second All Stakeholders Conference.
“All the issues were negotiated with express instructions from the political parties. The negotiators consulted their top leadership so there is nothing new. Enough concessions have been made and time for negotiations is finished,” Dube said.
Okay Machisa from the Crisis Coalition agreed and insisted the document does not belong to ZANU PF. He said negotiations have been going on for a very long time and the draft was agreed on through consultations with all the political parties.
“It is shocking that one party would make a u-turn and demand further amendments after all the negotiations are done. It is time to let the people of Zimbabwe decide and move on,” Machisa told SW Radio Africa. SW Radio Africa
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