Opinion / Columnist
MDC-T constitutional amendments appearing in the media are false
22 Jul 2014 at 21:11hrs | Views
Press Statement (22nd July 2014)
The MDC wishes to state categorically that the press reports of its constitutional amendments appearing in the media are false.
Before every congress, MDC members are given an opportunity to suggest any constitutional amendments to be tabled and discussed at congress. To that end a constitutional review committee headed by Deputy Chairman, Senator Morgen Komichi has been appointed to collect and collet constitutional proposals from our members. These constitutional proposals have to be made by MDC members both corporate and individual to their respective District Executive Committees for onward transmission to the provincial Executive Committees. The National Constitutional Committee will then collect these proposals from the Provincial Executive Committees. These proposals will be synthesised for discussion at the Congress. Only when a proposal has been adopted by congress does it take effect as a constitutional amendment.
The aim of the constitutional amendments is to strengthen the MDC as a change agent by reducing areas of conflict. It is also to clarify the roles of each portfolio holder so that there is no confusion as to who is responsible for what. Part of the problem with the MDC constitution is the vagueness on some key issues. This has to be eliminated. The MDC aims at making the roles of each portfolio holder very specific at the same time strengthening the checks and balances within the organisation. Because of the lack of specificity and accountability the MDC almost risked its assets been fleeced by very senior officials. It is therefore important to make these elected officials more accountable to the membership.
The current MDC constitution was crafted before the new constitution of Zimbabwe was crafted. It is crucially important to align some of the provisions of the MDC constitution to some provisions of the national constitution. One of these key provisions is the process of recall of elected officials.
Some papers have even gone as far as stating that President Tsvangirai wants to usurp and assume the duties of the Secretary General like Mugabe. This is blatantly false as President Tsvangirai has never advocated for such an outrageous situation in the party at all.
The MDC has not yet received any constitutional proposals from its members at all and the so called proposals appearing in the press are pure speculation.
The MDC is serious with its preparation for the next elections. To that end it will hold its congress in October in order to elect its new leadership.
DOUGLAS T. MWONZORA
(National Spokesperson)
The MDC wishes to state categorically that the press reports of its constitutional amendments appearing in the media are false.
Before every congress, MDC members are given an opportunity to suggest any constitutional amendments to be tabled and discussed at congress. To that end a constitutional review committee headed by Deputy Chairman, Senator Morgen Komichi has been appointed to collect and collet constitutional proposals from our members. These constitutional proposals have to be made by MDC members both corporate and individual to their respective District Executive Committees for onward transmission to the provincial Executive Committees. The National Constitutional Committee will then collect these proposals from the Provincial Executive Committees. These proposals will be synthesised for discussion at the Congress. Only when a proposal has been adopted by congress does it take effect as a constitutional amendment.
The aim of the constitutional amendments is to strengthen the MDC as a change agent by reducing areas of conflict. It is also to clarify the roles of each portfolio holder so that there is no confusion as to who is responsible for what. Part of the problem with the MDC constitution is the vagueness on some key issues. This has to be eliminated. The MDC aims at making the roles of each portfolio holder very specific at the same time strengthening the checks and balances within the organisation. Because of the lack of specificity and accountability the MDC almost risked its assets been fleeced by very senior officials. It is therefore important to make these elected officials more accountable to the membership.
The current MDC constitution was crafted before the new constitution of Zimbabwe was crafted. It is crucially important to align some of the provisions of the MDC constitution to some provisions of the national constitution. One of these key provisions is the process of recall of elected officials.
Some papers have even gone as far as stating that President Tsvangirai wants to usurp and assume the duties of the Secretary General like Mugabe. This is blatantly false as President Tsvangirai has never advocated for such an outrageous situation in the party at all.
The MDC has not yet received any constitutional proposals from its members at all and the so called proposals appearing in the press are pure speculation.
The MDC is serious with its preparation for the next elections. To that end it will hold its congress in October in order to elect its new leadership.
DOUGLAS T. MWONZORA
(National Spokesperson)
Source - MDC-T
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