News / National
Mugabe's spies' wings to be clipped
13 Jul 2012 at 07:44hrs | Views
The new draft constitution has provisions to bring the operations of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) under the purview of Parliament through appropriate legal instruments, it has been revealed.
The three governing parties â€" MDC-T, MDC and Zanu PF â€" were yesterday polishing the draft before presenting it to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
Sources said the parties had reached compromises on all the contentious issues that included devolution of power and dual citizenship.
The two MDC formations compromised on devolution of power, which has been watered down.
One of Zanu PF's concessions reportedly includes the move to put the administration of the CIO under an Act of Parliament. Service chiefs, who have also been accused of being partisan, will also be curtailed from interfering in politics.
The CIO, which is feared for its unbridled powers, falls directly under the President's office. Sources in the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) yesterday said the draft proposed significant changes in the way the intelligence service operates.
The proposals will see the CIO directors reporting to a minister instead of the President.
The intelligence boss will act according to policy directives from the responsible minister as outlined in the Act of Parliament, according to the source.
The President will also appoint commissioners to the Intelligence Services Commission after approval from Parliament.
The proposals are contained in Section 11:17 of the draft, which deals with the establishment and command of the CIO. The parties also agreed on devolution of power, which will see the creation of provincial councils.
The parties also agreed to make provisions for a constitutional court that would become the highest court in the land, while the Supreme Court becomes the Court of Appeal.
The three governing parties â€" MDC-T, MDC and Zanu PF â€" were yesterday polishing the draft before presenting it to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
Sources said the parties had reached compromises on all the contentious issues that included devolution of power and dual citizenship.
The two MDC formations compromised on devolution of power, which has been watered down.
One of Zanu PF's concessions reportedly includes the move to put the administration of the CIO under an Act of Parliament. Service chiefs, who have also been accused of being partisan, will also be curtailed from interfering in politics.
The CIO, which is feared for its unbridled powers, falls directly under the President's office. Sources in the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) yesterday said the draft proposed significant changes in the way the intelligence service operates.
The proposals will see the CIO directors reporting to a minister instead of the President.
The intelligence boss will act according to policy directives from the responsible minister as outlined in the Act of Parliament, according to the source.
The President will also appoint commissioners to the Intelligence Services Commission after approval from Parliament.
The proposals are contained in Section 11:17 of the draft, which deals with the establishment and command of the CIO. The parties also agreed on devolution of power, which will see the creation of provincial councils.
The parties also agreed to make provisions for a constitutional court that would become the highest court in the land, while the Supreme Court becomes the Court of Appeal.
Source - newsday
