Constitution deadlock inevitable says Tsvangirai

Movement for Democratic Change leader and Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected the Zanu-PF proposed amendments on the COPAC Draft Constitution saying a deadlock is now inevitable.

Tsvangirai told journalists during his monthly press briefing that his party will not accept any proposed amendments made by the Zanu-PF Politburo to the COPAC Draft Constitution.

The Prime Minister said the deadlock is definite, considering that Zanu-PF has already said it will stick to its proposed amendments on the Draft Constitution.

Asked what would happen if President Robert Mugabe used his executive powers to call for early elections under the current constitution in the event of deadlock, Tsvangirai said the GPA is part of the constitution which he believes Mugabe will abide with.

While the principals are supposed to meet to map the way forward after receiving the COPAC Draft Constitution and the one audited by Zanu-PF, the MDC-T principal to the GPA noted that failure to break the deadlock by both political parties and SADC will spell doom for the country.

Tsvangirai's remarks come as the SADC facilitator, President Jacob Zuma's team has jetted into the country to meet negotiators to the GPA.

Zanu-PF chief negotiator, Patrick Chinamasa said the SADC facilitation team will hold bilateral meetings with negotiators of the political parties to the GPA this Tuesday.

Chinamasa said the team will have a joint meeting involving all political parties on Wednesday.

Some of the issues to come under the spotlight are the progress made in the constitution making process and the issue of election timeframes.