Zim draft constitution scraps death penalty

The Copac management committee has unanimously agreed that the death penalty should be abolished except for aggravated murder while headway into some of the contentious issues is imminent, legislators heard yesterday.

Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said the management committee was now seized with the remaining issues of disagreement.

He said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs.

Buhera Central legislator Mr Tangwara Matimba (MDC-T) was the acting chairperson in the absence of Nyanga North MP, Mr Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T).

"I am glad to report that there has been progress in the constitution making process despite what you are reading in the media," Minister Matinenga said.

"The issue regarding the death penalty has been resolved with the committee agreeing that it be discarded except in cases of conviction for aggravated murder."

The management committee, he said, was on the verge of reaching consensus on the establishment of an independent prosecuting authority.

Minister Matinenga said the management committee was still to agree on dual citizenship and devolution of power.

He said the first draft of the constitution was likely to be taken for the Second All Stakeholders Conference before end of next month.

All things being equal, Minister Matinenga said, the constitution was expected to be taken for referendum at the earliest by September this year.

He refused to comment on the link between the completion of the constitution making process and the holding of elections saying he was not the right person to comment.

Minister Matinenga said the principals will also negotiate on areas of disagreement. Because of polarisation, he said, parties were hiding behind people's views when in actual fact these were party positions.

Minister Matinenga said at the end of the constitution making process, Government would have spent US$24 million while co-operating partners would have forked out US$21 million.

He said Copac was still saddled with a US$3,9 million debt down from US$4,5 million from the previous quarter arising from outreach and the extended thematic committee discussions.

Legislators raised concerns why Government did not trim the Select Committee numbers considering that most of the work has been done.

Minister Matinenga said the Select Committee was a creation of Parliament and thus it was the only legitimate institution to reduce the numbers.

He said the management committee had agreed that those accused of leaking information to the media should be withdrawn by their parties.