MDC-T distanced itself from a Copac statement issued yesterday declaring review of the Second All-Stakeholders’ Conference had been concluded.
Report by Everson Mushava Chief Reporter
It has since emerged that the three parties had not agreed on modalities of resolving differences that emerged over the draft at the conference held in Harare last month, forcing MDC-T to disassociate itself from latest developments.
Copac had earlier announced that it had completed compiling a report of the conference and would forward it to the Management Committee of the body charged with drafting the new constitution.
The statement announcing the completion of the process was read by MDC Copac co-chairperson Edward Mkhosi at a Press conference in Harare yesterday.
He was flanked by Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (Zanu PF) and MDC-T House of Assembly chief whip Innocent Gonese, standing in for Copac co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T).
Mkhosi said the report included “areas of the draft where changes were recommended, but not agreed to”.
“The different recommendations are highlighted and citations for the arguments given,” he said.
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“Following the submission to the Management Committee, the Select Committee shall meet to resolve issues disagreed upon.”
Mangwana said the Select Committee would meet again to draw up recommendations on how disputed areas could be resolved with the help of the Management Committee and the Global Political Agreement (GPA) principals.
“The Select Committee will come up with recommendations on how deadlocks can be dealt with,” he said.
He said the principals would not take over the constitution-making process, saying they had always been involved in the process through the Management Committee, which is made up of negotiators of the GPA.
But MDC-T members of the Select Committee distanced themselves from yesterday’s events.
“We were not shown the statement, including the person who read it (Mkhosi),” said Mines deputy minister Gift Chimanikire (MDC-T).
Kadoma Central MP Editor Matamisa said: “In the past, a statement used to circulate and parties would make an input before a final one was prepared.
“But this time it was not the same. We only got to know it when it was read to us.”
Sources said Copac had been under pressure from Zanu PF to conclude the process ahead of yesterday’s politburo meeting hence the latest rift with the MDC-T.
“Zanu PF was determined and wanted the Select Committee to come up with a position that all submissions would be considered,” said a Copac member who wanted to remain anonymous.
“But we stood firm and told them that the meeting was simply supposed to come up with a report on what transpired and what was said at the conference.”
MDC-T is reportedly of the view that the Select Committee factor in recommendations of the Second All Stakeholders Conference into the draft constitution before taking it to the Management Committee.
