New Constitution delays, GPA principals to intervene

ZANU-PF'S Politburo has implored the three principals to the inclusive Government to intervene if Copac continues to delay the completion of the new Constitution.

Addressing journalists after the meeting yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Rugare Gumbo said the party urged President Mugabe to take up the issue to the other principals and come up with a way forward.

"(Paul) Mangwana (Copac co-chairman) briefed us on what has been taking place at Copac. The Politburo expressed concern about the slow pace at which the process is being done. We quizzed Mangwana and he said they had finished reviewing 11 chapters. The President was concerned on the delays by Copac. We took a very strong decision that the principals have to deal with the issue," he said.

Gumbo said the President assured the Politburo that he will take the matter to his colleagues. He said the Politburo had not come up with a deadline for the completion of the Constitution-making process except to call for the intervention of the GPA principals. Gumbo said they also received a post-mortem of the party's 12th Annual People's Conference held in Bulawayo in December last year.

Mangwana told reporters that the remaining six chapters might be completed next week.

President Mugabe thanked organisers of the 21st February Movement held in Mutare on Saturday.

"Representing myself and the family we wish to express deep thanks and appreciation for the organisation and management that saw our most wonderful celebrations taking place in Mutare on Saturday. It is also an appreciation of myself having 88 years, which I said was a much younger age than most of you because if you add eight plus eight you get 16," he said.

"The kids were in it at various stages . . . the singing, the jubilation, the totality rejoicing and festives really demonstrates one big family . . . The celebrations were a visible rejoicing and I thought the best way I could share my appreciation and that of the family was for me to show you my very big crocodile," he said.

"Isu vekwaZvimba tinoera makarwe. We are a crocodile clan and we respect crocodiles. But this time some people say the crocodile can be made sweeter and instead of the crocodile eating man, the man will eat the crocodile. Those who arranged things and gave us eats in Mutare decided that the crocodile cannot be eaten in Mutare and I saw it coming back to my residence but I noticed that it has been wounded on one side.

"I decided to take it to my colleagues in Politburo and it will not do any harm to them because it is already wounded and for the first time they can taste the flesh of the crocodile. It is a cake, it has chocolate and let us enjoy it together," said the President.