Zanu-PF, MDCs smoke peace pipe

Significant progress was made during three days of talks to finalise the draft constitution by the three parties in the inclusive government, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs minister Eric Matinenga said yesterday.

Matinenga told SW Radio Africa last night the talks held in Nyanga had seen Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC finding common ground on some of the issues that had threatened the completion of the draft.

"Unfortunately there was not sufficient time to enable us to finish the task on hand, that is why when we adjourned yesterday (Wednesday) we had not yet completed our task," he said.

The lawyer-cum-politician said because of the delicate nature of the process he was not at liberty to say what was agreed and how far they had gone in revising the draft.

"As I said, significant progress has been made, but as the management committee we are keen to finalise this process, and we certainly want to see to it that we deliver that document to the people of Zimbabwe.

"We are fully aware of the expectations of the people of Zimbabwe and we want to meet their expectations," the minister said.

The management committee will resume talks on Monday next week with the aim of sealing an agreement before the end of June.

Matinenga attended the Nyanga meeting as chairperson of the management committee.

Zanu-PF negotiators were Patrick Chinamasa and Nicholas Goche while Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma represented the MDC-T.

Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Moses Mzila-Ndlovu were the two MDC negotiators.

Copac co-chairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (Zanu PF), Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) and Edward Mkhosi (MDC) were in attendance at the secluded lodge.

However, the area surrounding the lodge was reportedly teeming with aides representing the parties and State security agents, all keeping a close watch on the events from a distance.

While Matinenga was reluctant to divulge what was agreed, SW Radio Africa was reliably informed there was some sort of agreement over devolution.

'In principle, they (management committee) could argue that they resolved the devolution issue by agreeing to have it finalised by a full Parliament.

"Others may disagree and say it has been parked until it has been dealt with by Parliament, which is what Zanu PF wanted," Dewa Mavhinga, a lawyer and pro-democracy activist, said.

Other contentious issues were not discussed owing to the manner in which the revision of the draft was structured.

It is believed a positive outcome of the talks would open the way for the release of a final draft of the constitution that has taken three years to compile.
Following the formation of the inclusive government in 2009, there was optimism the country would have a new constitution by 2010.

But political bickering among the parties in the shaky government derailed this time frame. 

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