Opinion / Columnist
A Commentary on Zimbabwe's Current Affairs
01 Aug 2012 at 13:00hrs | Views
It could be argued that Zimbabweans may have to brace for more contradictory statements, buckpassing, half truths and vague draft constitution.
Interestingly, the MDC formations have reportedly said they accept the draft constitution and would urge for a Yes vote, while Mugabe's Zanu-pf is said to be split after accepting only 97% before backtracking on the issue of presidential running mates.
What would the MDC formations do if Zanu-PF made more changes as appears likely when they (the MDCs) have already committed themselves to a Yes vote? Only God knows.
There is anger out there. People feel cheated e.g. on the cut-off date for probing human rights abuses especially following revelations that the draft constitution initially had a paragraph on Gukurahundi which was later allegedly removed.
If the negotiations were what they are supposed to be, there would be an immediate activation of criminal investigations into the pre-2009 rights abuses as a quid-pro-quo for approving the Human Rights Commission Bill.
Suggestions that an Act of Parliament may make provision for dual citizenship in respect of citizens by descent or registration are not convincing at all in view of the strategy of depleting opposition MPs ahead of crucial votes in Parliament.
A transcript of MDC-T Senator Obert Gutu's interview on SWRadioAfrica's Question Time which was broadcast on 18 July 2012 made interesting reading.
In one part he said:
"it was felt that as a strategic move it is better maybe to have the (Human Rights Commission) Bill passed through parliament with all the obvious imperfections that are there so that by the time we go to the forthcoming historic and make or break elections, at least we would have a fully functional and operationalised Human Rights Commission."
A comment posted by a concerned member of the public on the Zimbabwe Mail website below the transcript says in part:
"MDC looks like it has dumped us in a pit that we have to get ourselves out …noone will ever help us…"
Sadly, that is the impression everyone has, including victims and survivors of CIO abduction, torture, and brutal assaults. But the leaders believe in providence.
For instance, in February, Morgan Tsvangirai told a prayer meeting in Harare that he and Mugabe had been chosen by God and the people of Zimbabwe should pray for them to lead the country.
"I have been chosen by God, so has Mugabe," Tsvangirai was quoted as telling thousands of people at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex.
"Whether you like us or not, you have to pray for us, for vision, foresight and wisdom to lead the country," (The Standard, "Tsvangirai defies Mugabe on Chihuri appointment" 12/02/12).
With powers from God like that, who can stop them from amending what is after all a negotiated and flawed draft constitution despite earlier assurances that Tsvangirai and Mugabe cannot change it?
Contact author: zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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