'Madhuku is grandstanding to mobilise money for his broke NCA'

National Constitutional Assembly chairman Professor Lovemore Madhuku's campaign for a "Vote No" to the draft constitution ahead of the forthcoming referendum is political grandstanding in an attempt to raise money for his bankrupt organisation, analysts have said.

Addressing a conference on Tuesday, Prof Madhuku said the NCA would conduct a door-to-door campaign against the draft arguing that it was not a people-driven constitution.

He said draft constitution represented the interests of three political parties, Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations. He also castigated Copac's proposed outreach programme to raise awareness among the people about contents of the draft constitution saying that would be tantamount to a campaign for the draft.

The law professor said there was totally nothing good in the draft constitution, pointing out that the Kariba Draft Constitution and Lancaster House Constitution were better off as they had some positive points.

But analysts say Prof Madhuku was flogging a dead horse and his planned campaign would not deter people from supporting the draft constitution. Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday said Prof Madhuku had no right to decide the wish of the people.

"Madhuku is just grandstanding in a bid to mobilise money for his broke organisation," said Gumbo.  

He added: "He refused to take part in the constitution process and has been saying that he will oppose it from the very beginning."

He said it was Professor Madhuku's opinion to oppose the draft constitution, but that could not deter them from doing what was in the interest of people. MDC-T spokesman and Copac co-chairperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said the draft was a people-driven constitution.

To this end, he said, Prof Madhuku had been ill-advised for not participating in the process.

"The draft constitution was a culmination of consultation with the people and nothing is going to stop us from taking the document back to the people highlighting its contents," said Mr Mwonzora.

"It is not up to (Prof) Madhuku, Zanu-PF or the MDC to purport to speak for the people. The civic education that is going to be carried out is not meant to coerce people to vote for the draft constitution, but have them make their own decision."

He said the problem with people like Madhuku was they thought they knew what was good for everyone, instead of letting the people think for themselves. Political analyst Mr Jerry Gotora said Prof Madhuku lacked knowledge on the basic tenets of democracy.

"Madhuku claims to be a democrat, but does not accept all the democratic principles," said Mr Gotora.

"The results of democracy are that when the majority wins, the minority becomes subservient to the majority. When we went to the 2008 polls, three parties dominated the polls culminating in formation of the Government of National Unity, which is the majority and will make decisions for minority parties and the likes of Madhuku."

He questioned which people Prof Madhuku was representing when he had never dared to contest any election and win votes.

"Whose doors is Madhuku going to knock on during his door-to-door campaign? Aren't they doors that belong to supporters of the Government Principals? He should be reminded that the major political parties will also go on a door-to-door campaign for a 'Vote Yes,' and they will be knocking on the doors of their supporters," said Mr Gotora.