MDC-T and NCA clash over new constitution

Zimbabwe Telegraph
By MIRIAM MARUFU
Thursday, April 16, 2009

HARARE – The newly appointed 25-member parliamentary committee responsible for initiating the process of coming up with a people-driven Constitution will meet next Monday to determine how best to handle the process. The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has made it clear it does not support a new constitution driven by political parties who made up the Unity Government.

The National Constitutional Assembly immediately fired a warning salvo Wednesday, warning that it would vigorously campaign against the process.

Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, on Sunday announced the committee ahead of the 13 April 2009 deadline fixed in the Global Political Agreement (GPA), signed by the three principals of the three major political parties in the country.

The committee is made up of members from both the two MDC formations and Zanu PF.
The body will be responsible for drafting a new Constitution by February 2010, which will be judged through a referendum in July and if the people agree with it, the Constitution would be passed before the end of the year.

The parliamentary select committee will also put in place sub-committees to determine a number of issues involved in coming up with the Constitution.

Hon. Moyo said the select committee would drive the writing of the new constitution for the country in the next 18 months as outlined under the GPA that the three main political parties signed last year.
“The Constitution making process will require substantial financial and human resources,” Hon. Moyo.
“I therefore, call upon all progressive forces to join hands with us in ensuring that the process brings tangible results that we can all be proud of.

“This historic inter-party political agreement places the responsibility of leading the constitution making process on the Parliament and more importantly, provides an opportunity for the country to create a constitution by the people for the people.”

Dr Lovemore Madhuku, NCA chairman, said he would lead a campaign against the constitution, which should go to a referendum next year.

“The NCA will campaign for a No vote, because any document that comes from a defective process is defective,” Madhuku told a news conference.

“We are going to start a campaign of opposing this process. We will obviously be holding demonstrations,” he added.

It emerged that Tsvangirai’s MDC boycotted a meeting called by the NCA to explain its position last week. And Madhuku claimed the Prime Minister had specifically instructed his loyalists not to attend.
“It is a fact that Prime Minister Tsvangirai instructed his MPs to boycott our meeting. We have been boycotting their (MDC-T) meetings, so they want to use the boycott weaponry as well. They chose to make a tit-for-tat decision. What this means is that the struggle continues and it is still on,” he said.
Moyo said a constitution was a living and sacred document that “we should all be proud of”.

The 25 committee members are; from the MDC Hon. Amos Chibaya, Senator Gladys Gombani Dube, Hon. Iain Kay, Senator Cephas Makuyana, Hon. Editor Mayamisa, Hon. Evelyn Masiti, Hon. Douglas Mwonzora, Hon. Jabulani Ndlovu, Hon. Brian Tshuma, Hon. Gift Chimanikire, Hon. Jessie Majome, Senator David Coltart, Hon. Dalumazi Khumalo and Hon. Edward Tshothso Mkhosi.

From Zanu PF the members are; Hon. Flora Bhuka, Hon. Walter Chidakwa, Hon. Edward Chindori Chininga, Hon. Joram Gumbo, Hon. Paul Mangwana, Hon. Martin Khumalo, Senator Tambudzai Mohadi, Hon. Olivia Muchena, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa and Governor Thokozile Mathuthu.

The chairperson of the committee who is expected to come from an independent body is expected to be announced soon.