News / National
Zanu-PF, MDC-T push for approval of draft constitution
29 Jul 2012 at 00:42hrs | Views
The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and bitter rivals Zanu-PF led by Robert Mugabe are pushing for the endorsement of the draft constitution.
Tsvangirai's MDC-T on Saturday pushed for approval of the draft constitution calling it "the best document" possible.
A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Douglas Mwonzora, said that if the draft was looked at objectively, "one will come to the unescapable conclusion that it is the best document so far since 1896."
Mwonzora said his party's officials were satisfied with the draft and had agreed to support the document, which was completed last week by negotiators from the country's two man political parties.
Meanwhile, the Zanu-PF politburo also endorsed about 97 percent of the draft constitution but will propose amendments to a few key clauses before giving the document its complete backing, party negotiator and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.
Chinamasa said thethe politburo, Zanu PF's main decision-making organ outside of congress, had given the draft a thorough going over during a 14-hour marathon meeting that lasted until 2am Saturday morning.
Some analysts have criticised the document as a flawed compromise which will not have any effect, however.
The proposed constitution would curtail presidential powers and impose a two-term limit of 10 years. Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's 1980 independence.
It would also strip the president of immunity from prosecution once he leaves office, a major concern for Mugabe who fears being hauled to court over human rights abuses.
Following a long debate on allowing same-sex marriage and ending capital punishment, the draft defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and maintains the death penalty except for women and people aged 70 or older.
It provides for citizenship by birth, descent or registration but does not allow dual citizenship.
The draft also foresees compensation for white farmers who were forced off their land by Mugabe's controversial land reforms and protects the property rights of the new farmers.
Tsvangirai's MDC-T on Saturday pushed for approval of the draft constitution calling it "the best document" possible.
A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Douglas Mwonzora, said that if the draft was looked at objectively, "one will come to the unescapable conclusion that it is the best document so far since 1896."
Mwonzora said his party's officials were satisfied with the draft and had agreed to support the document, which was completed last week by negotiators from the country's two man political parties.
Meanwhile, the Zanu-PF politburo also endorsed about 97 percent of the draft constitution but will propose amendments to a few key clauses before giving the document its complete backing, party negotiator and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.
Chinamasa said thethe politburo, Zanu PF's main decision-making organ outside of congress, had given the draft a thorough going over during a 14-hour marathon meeting that lasted until 2am Saturday morning.
The proposed constitution would curtail presidential powers and impose a two-term limit of 10 years. Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's 1980 independence.
It would also strip the president of immunity from prosecution once he leaves office, a major concern for Mugabe who fears being hauled to court over human rights abuses.
Following a long debate on allowing same-sex marriage and ending capital punishment, the draft defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and maintains the death penalty except for women and people aged 70 or older.
It provides for citizenship by birth, descent or registration but does not allow dual citizenship.
The draft also foresees compensation for white farmers who were forced off their land by Mugabe's controversial land reforms and protects the property rights of the new farmers.
Source - Byo24News
