Discussing Copac issues with predominantly state-owned media reporters in the 14th floor board room of the party’s HQ, Mangwana said: “As Zanu (PF) we got our way regarding the constitution making. ‘Mudhara’ (Mugabe) warned us against compromising on the most important aspects of the constitution.
“Regarding the running mates issue we had to be cleverer than MDC. Mugabe made it very clear that this issue would further divide and destroy Zanu (PF). The fact that he would be forced to nominate running mates would also isolate him from the people, as he was likely to choose running mates out of favour with remaining party supporters.”
Mangwana emphasised that Mugabe made it abundantly clear that: “Whatever you agree at Copac should never result in immediate implementation of the running mate clause. You must outwit MDC and have the running mate clause take effect after 10 years – as something will have happened by then.”
Mangwana said in order to outwit MDC Zanu (PF) had to tactfully acknowledge that the running mate clause was a brilliant idea – but not for now. On the fate of incumbent Zanu (PF) vice presidents, Mangwana said their offices would be disempowered as the authority they hold would be transferred to the national chairperson’s office. He said the arrangement that the Attorney General would now sit in cabinet while the Prosecutor General would be responsible for all prosecutions, was a good set up for Zanu (PF).
“Also remember the Supreme Court would be the constitutional court for the next 10 years if the draft constitution gets the people’s approval at the referendum. Your guess on what will happen there is as good as mine,” said Mangwana with a smile.
Asked by this reporter if the constitution breakthrough suited Zanu (PF), Mangwana said: “At face value people would think MDC won the constitution-making deal. Remember, Zanu (PF) controls institutions of power. At the end of the day, the head of state who is supposed to sign the constitution Act into law is Zanu (PF). There was no way the constitution process would have progressed without our nod.” Mangwana said Zanu (PF) panicked last week when MDC negotiators told Mugabe’s party to go to hell if it did not want to compromise on outstanding issues. “We caught a cold when negotiators from MDC formations showed us the exit door if we were not prepared to give in to their demands. We lost sleep and had to engage their secretary generals for a breakthrough.
“Consensus was only reached an hour before we briefed leaders of the three parties on progress. The breakthrough was also made hastily out of fear that our (negotiators’) credibility would be questioned by the GNU principals,” he said.
The breakthrough has activated political activity around the country, with political parties increasing regularity of party meetings. Zimbabwe is back into the tense election mood. As MDC-T is conducting countrywide debriefing meetings about the status of the constitution and the way forward, the Zanu (PF) commissariat is frantically revisiting the party membership register to take audit of party structures from cell to provincial level.
Post published in: News
Mangwana said: “As Zanu (PF) we got our way regarding the constitution making. ‘Mudhara’ (Mugabe) warned us against compromising on the most important aspects of the constitution.”
Well there is a surprise!
Well the single most important aspect Mugabe won in all this soddy business is how the tyrant returned his party’s ability to overwhelm the whole nation with violence. The party had its militia, the total control of the Police, Army and CIO and, the icing on the cake, the money from its secretive diamond mining operations was pouring in.
Not even in his wildest dreams would Mugabe back in 2008 have believed he would get away with not even implementing one reform and a constitution that has everything Zanu PF wanted.
Mangwana has let the cat out of the bag, he has confirmed something we have all known all along but some would not admit; Tsvangirai and MDC sold the nation cheaply to Mugabe and Zanu PF.
Frankly there is nothing in the Copac constitution that was a serious threat to Mugabe’s desire to hold on to power at all cost. Mugabe got everything he wanted. Mangwana didnot have to spell out it that the tyrant dictate Copac, it was obvious!