Radio Dialogue Giving you a voice
Zanu-PF has maintained its stance of calling for amendments to the draft constitution before the document is taken to the referendum following a series of party meetings to deliberate on the document after the two MDC formations declared their support for the country’s supreme law.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo today told Zimbabwe Community Radio that his party is satisfied with the draft except for few sections which he however refused to disclose.
“There are changes that we feel are necessary to be made on the existing draft, we had a meeting last night where we continued to probe these things. I am glad to say we have almost concluded, its just a question of cleaning up the paper and making sure everything is order but otherwise we are okay,” Gumbo said.
“A lot needs to be changed, we want to incorporate the views that are in the national report which is a representation of what was said by the people, that is what we are working on at the moment.”
The other partners in government, MDC and the MDC T have endorsed the draft constitution with reports that delays by Zanu PF are stalling referendum preparations.
According to media reports the party is arguing that national objectives and foundations in the preamble are insufficiently stated, the importance of the liberation struggle is not properly captured, the appointment of provincial governors should remain a preserve of the president, the country does not need a constitutional court because the Supreme Court is sufficient for this purpose, the constitution does not state the importance of traditional leaders and fails to capture submissions made by young people.
Copac co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora this week said the committee is not entertaining too many changes to the draft constitution.
Meanwhile, ZAPU-Federal Party President Sikhumbuzo Dube has accused GPA parties and some civil society organisations of pushing self interest at the expense of the electorate. He said they are urging COPAC to produce a national report of the outreach process for the nation to see whether the draft is in line with the views of people.
“The three political parties have personalised the whole process, the manner in which the constitution making process was done is the same which resulted in the draft which was rejected in 2000. This means that it is going to be difficult for stakeholders outside the inclusive government to call for any changes to the draft, ” Dube said.
“Is there really any need to change anything when the people expressed their views during the outreach process? If any changes are to be made, Copac should revisit the national report.”
