News / National
Madhuku and NCA in 'NO' vote campaign
07 Aug 2012 at 13:37hrs | Views
The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has maintained that it will campaign for a "no" vote against the new constitution in the referendum claiming the draft has failed to include the views of the majority.
This comes as no surprise as the NCA has been criticising the constitution-making process since its inception.
The organisation's chairman, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, queried why the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) has failed to produce a national report that clearly shows what the people said during the constitution-making process and allow Zimbabweans to contrast with what is included in the draft that was presented to principals and parliament.
"We have made it very clear that we will not accept the new constitution. Where is the national report? It was expected to be there before the draft and at the moment we were supposed to be analysing what the people said and how it was incorporated into the draft but procedure was flouted and this is not acceptable," he said.
Professor Madhuku also expressed concern over the attempts by COPAC to increase the number of legislators to over 250 members.
He noted that Zimbabweans actually wanted the numbers to be reduced as these have become a burden on the fiscus.
While the two MDC formations have endorsed the draft constitution, Zanu-PF is expected to come up with a position at its politburo meeting this Wednesday.
There are sentiments to the effect that COPAC ignored the wishes of the majority in various areas such as national objectives and foundations, the importance of the liberation struggle, the appointment of provincial governors, the establishment of the constitutional court as well as the tenure of the inclusive government.
This comes as no surprise as the NCA has been criticising the constitution-making process since its inception.
The organisation's chairman, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, queried why the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) has failed to produce a national report that clearly shows what the people said during the constitution-making process and allow Zimbabweans to contrast with what is included in the draft that was presented to principals and parliament.
"We have made it very clear that we will not accept the new constitution. Where is the national report? It was expected to be there before the draft and at the moment we were supposed to be analysing what the people said and how it was incorporated into the draft but procedure was flouted and this is not acceptable," he said.
Professor Madhuku also expressed concern over the attempts by COPAC to increase the number of legislators to over 250 members.
He noted that Zimbabweans actually wanted the numbers to be reduced as these have become a burden on the fiscus.
While the two MDC formations have endorsed the draft constitution, Zanu-PF is expected to come up with a position at its politburo meeting this Wednesday.
There are sentiments to the effect that COPAC ignored the wishes of the majority in various areas such as national objectives and foundations, the importance of the liberation struggle, the appointment of provincial governors, the establishment of the constitutional court as well as the tenure of the inclusive government.
Source - zbc
