DIFFERENCES over devolution of power between Zanu PF and the two MDCs could scuttle the constitution-making process as the parties failed to agree on the governance system at the just ended Second All-Stakeholders’ Conference. Report by Khanyile Mlotshwa Staff Reporter
This followed Zanu PF’s refusal to sign the thematic committee’s report.
MDC team leader to the thematic committee on local government and provincial government, Qhubani Moyo, told NewsDay yesterday that Zanu PF stuck to its position that devolution of power should be removed from the draft constitution.
“We stood our ground and told them unequivocally that the document (draft) was a compromise and even the devolution of power in the draft is not even half of the devolution of power that we want,” he said.
“We agreed on day one (Monday), but on day two, they (Zanu PF delegates) came back with a new set of demands, which are not necessarily what the people had signed. They refused to sign the document, but I and Thabitha Khumalo (MDC-T) signed.”
Moyo took a swipe at Zanu PF and described some party members as “cowards who send a group of old women and men to fight their battles”. Contacted on the issue, Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo refused to comment on the deadlock over devolution of power except to say “the conference was successful”.
“I can’t comment on something I am not sure of,” Gumbo said.“As we have said before, you newspaper people want to inflame emotions at times. I don’t think there was anything untoward at the conference. Everyone was allowed to say their feelings. I don’t want to be bogged down on small matters. The fact of the matter is that the conference was successful and we are awaiting the summary of the proceedings that Copac will present to the principals.”
