Published by the government of Zimbabwe
7 October 2008
Harare — NEGOTIATORS to the inter-party talks meet in Harare today to discuss the allocation of the remaining ministries, Zanu-PF negotiator Cde Nicholas Goche has said.
Two ministries - Finance and Home Affairs - are still up for discussion between Zanu-PF, MDC-T and the MDC. The party principals who met in Harare recently failed to agree on the allocation and referred the matter to their negotiating teams.
In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Cde Goche said the negotiating teams had failed to meet as scheduled yesterday but were now expected to meet today.
Cde Goche's counterpart to the talks, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, expressed optimism that discussions over the remaining posts would be concluded and an inclusive government put in place soon.
The MDC-T team to the talks comprises party secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti and deputy national treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma while the MDC is represented by its secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube and his deputy, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
Speaking at an induction workshop for MPs in Harare yesterday, Cde Chinamasa - who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs -- said the Seventh Parliament was unique in that deliberations in the House would be premised on the inclusive Government, hence not much by way of disagreements was expected.
Cde Chinamasa told the MPs that their first task was to debate and pass Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 19) Bill, which seeks to give effect to the framework of the new Government that saw the creation of the offices of Prime Minister and two deputy prime ministers.
"I am an optimistic person and I have always wanted to be one, so I remain optimistic that there would be an inclusive Government and some of the posts are not provided for in the new Government to be formed, hence you will have to deliberate and pass the constitutional amendments. It is important to have a mindset that we are going to work together, Chief Whips and ministers might have to play a different role than they used to do in the past as they would no longer be representing their political parties' interests alone," Cde Chinamasa said.
"While Members of Parliament have a constitutional right to freedom of speech, I don't anticipate they will have freedom to vote against Constitutional Amendment (No 19) because it is arising from an agreement by political parties that have sponsored you into Parliament. This makes this Parliament unique in that in the past we have had MPs from the ruling party and the opposition but now it is an inclusive (government) which makes easy sailing of Bills."
He said unlike in the past where a minister would table a Bill reflecting the views of his political party, in the present Parliament, a minister would be tabling Bills that reflected the views of an inclusive Government.
Cde Chinamasa said Government was considering whether to have separate portfolio committees for the House of Assembly and Senate.
"I understand the Clerk of Parliament has since written to political parties asking for their views. It is something that we are still consulting on. I feel that we should separate them . . . the Senate would be dealing mainly with thematic or broad-based issues," he said.
Responding to questions on what the Government was doing to have a more spacious Parliament chamber, Cde Chinamasa said a new site has since been identified and construction would begin soon.
"We are fully cognisant that Parliament will be overstretched. The building of a new Parliament is something that has been delayed owing to the last elections. We will be laying a stone at the Kopje and a tender has since been floated and awarded," he said.
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Please ignore any comments from Takunya and Comical Mabhiza. Here are some facts (and you cant argue with facts!) why..
1) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza are paid by the ZANU PF to spread propaganda and lies, and to twist the truth in the ZANU PF's favor on the internet.
2) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza are one and the same person.
3) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza both have stated that Mugabe is the most democratic leader in Africa. Seriously!
4) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza both support the use of violence, murder, rape and torture by Mugabe against the people of Zimbabwe.
Cde Chinamasa - as also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs - can indeed afford to be optimistic. Especially after he gave judges free 4-wheel drive vehicles to attend to their farms!
What a shame to come say he is optimistic on the back of mass sufferings when he ought to have expressed deep concern over the fate of the much rotten banana republic!