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Zanu PF exposed

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Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has scoffed at statements by Zanu PF Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana that he did not sign the draft constitution but only put his initials, saying Mangwana was trying to mislead the nation and Sadc. Speaking at a civic society meeting in Harare on Thursday, Tsvangirai said even though Mangwana argues […]

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has scoffed at statements by Zanu PF Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana that he did not sign the draft constitution but only put his initials, saying Mangwana was trying to mislead the nation and Sadc.

Speaking at a civic society meeting in Harare on Thursday, Tsvangirai said even though Mangwana argues that he only put initials, the under-fire Zanu PF Copac co-chairperson actually signed the draft that was later presented to Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo, Senate President Edna Madzongwe and then to Tsvangirai, President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Welshman Ncube.

“An initial is a signature and we have a signed document — not an initialled document — that all the parties even took to the Speaker of Parliament,” he said.

“What I know is that there is a signed document and not an initialled one as he is alleging. “What we know is we have a document signed by the three parties.”

Zanu PF sources said Mangwana succumbed to pressure from party hardliners who were lighting fire under his chair, accusing him of selling out to the MDC formations.

His fierce critics include politburo member Jonathan Moyo, who has labelled Copac “a mafia”.

Mangwana recently referred to Moyo and Zanu PF technical adviser in Copac Godwills Masimirembwa as “angels of the devil” for claiming people’s views were ignored in the draft.

The sudden U-turn by the former minister has also exposed sharp divisions in the party over the draft constitution.

Speaking at a Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe-sponsored dialogue in the capital on Thursday, Mangwana surprised all by saying he never signed the draft.

“We never signed the draft constitution. We merely initialled to say this is how far we have come,” he said.

“The people said something and the statistics came out, but my colleague (MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora) could not sign to make the statistics public.

“Zanu PF did not come up with a fresh new document.It has suggested amendments to the Copac draft.”

“What the President presented to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister is the Copac draft incorporating Zanu PF amendments.”

“So we have one draft, but what Zanu PF will not agree to is to ignore the views of the people.On the issue of devolution, 71% of the people said they wanted a unitary state, 33% said they wanted governors appointed by the President whilst 19,9% said they wanted governors directly elected.”

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