Constantine Chimakure
9 July 2009
(Page 2 of 2)
Why was it then acknowledged in the GPA and are you suggesting that President Mugabe is wrong by insisting that it should be the reference document?
It is important to understand that acknowledgment does not mean adoption. The Kariba draft is the only document, of all these drafts, signed by the parties. It is important to note that Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC-M do not represent all the people of Zimbabwe and therefore it is unfair to the people of Zimbabwe to impose their draft on them.
Mugabe insists that the Kariba draft is the reference document as agreed by the three political parties?
President Mugabe is a skilled negotiator and my reading of what he said is negotiating. He knows that there is Section 6.1, therefore, what he may want as a leader of Zanu PF may not be what Zimbabweans want in general.
But Mugabe reportedly told his central committee a fortnight ago that if the Kariba draft is not used as a reference document, Zanu PF members should vote against a new draft constitution once it is tabled in parliament. Don't you see the danger of Zanu PF sabotaging the constitution-making process at the last minute?
No, because once the referendum passes the new constitution it is not to parliament to reject it. But of course politicians may try to circumvent the will of the people. This they will try whether the constitution has been spearheaded by the select committee or by the civil society, but they do so at their own peril and there are ill-advised in doing that. My personal plea to President Mugabe will be to respect whatever comes out of the referendum.
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