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ZANU PF ahead of the syllabus on the constitution making process
George Makoni
May 17, 2012

ZANU PF is seemingly removing one of its legs from the pedals of the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) led Constitution Making Process. This is testified by utterances, newspaper articles and actions by some critical driving forces within ZANU PF. Suggested reasons include inter alia: drawing battle lines ahead of elections, use of the referendum as a litmus test with no vote possibly for ZANU PF whilst yes would for MDC and reservations on some sections which disadvantage ZANU PF in the next election or any way. There is a school of thought which believes that, it can be a bargaining strategy on key issues supported by ZANU PF but have been parked. These forces involved in flushing down the draft constitution include, the chameleonic ZANU P.F mercenary, Prof Jonathan Moyo, whose influence in ZANU PF direction can be underestimated at one-s own peril. For the past two months he has been specializing on discrediting the constitution making process, individuals involved and even the main sponsor of the process, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He generally described the process as,- a mafia-like exercise whose purpose has been to deceive and cheat Zimbabweans at every turn-.

Another ardent ZANU PF scribe, Dr Tafataona Mahoso has also been complementing efforts by his colleagues by penning articles with the same purpose in the state print media. Dr Mahoso mainly accused the COPAC team of being used by the West to scatter the power of central authority, which is represented by the executive president. He even referred the draft constitution as a manual for the Western invasion of Zimbabwe in his latest article in the Sunday Mail. The Presidential Spokesperson, George Charamba has also been painting the draft constitution with same brush. Could this be their independent minds? The recent utterances by Army Chief of Staff, Major General Martin Chedondo claiming that the new draft seeks to bring alien ideas through the back door, buttresses the same point. For such a junior officer in the army to utter such statements, it is clear that he had been given a green light by some senior guys within the ranks and files.

The army being historically a critical wing of the ZANU PF regime since 1980, one can safely argue that, these utterances are well orchestrated to augment the sentiments raised by the mentioned zealots of the ZANU PF system. With the president having also discredited the COPAC process on accusations of a hidden regime change agenda in early February, there might be a relation between his earlier stance and what his blue eyed boys are resorting to. The disruption of COPAC Press Conference, by self proclaimed war veterans earlier this year on allegations that 'COPAC is imperialist driven can also be earlier indicators of the drive which is nearing the end. Given the firm hand President Mugabe in ZANU PF, it is foolhardy to imagine that the above prevailing are occurring independently.

Given that about 70 percent of the outstanding issues in the Global Political Agreement have remained unsolved, it can easily be deducted that ZANU PF has never been serious with an amicable solution to the election deadlock, currently rocking Zimbabwe. Instead, they might be regretting why they had temporarily lessened the gravity of their cruelty towards dissenting voices. Well, from the analysis of the situation prevailing on the ground it seems ZANU PF no longer has anything to do with the GPA. The verbal attacks on Mr. Jacob Zuma; the facilitator of GPA, by ZANU PF speaks to the same point. The maligning of NGOs and Civic Society Organisations, as regime change agenda agents and the subsequent banning or deterring their activities, let alone the frustration of MDC-T and other non ZANU PF elements is meant to frustrate the alternative voice on issues to do with the constitution. Further to that citizens are not allowed to freely attend meetings by the stated institutions.

Hon Chombo and Hon Mutasa, both ZANU PF ministers have recently rubbished the draft constitution as a document for the whites, who want to regain control of Zimbabwe. The innocent, unsuspecting citizens in rural areas are being told that, voting yes for the constitution is acceptance of foreign cultures such as homosexual. They are further stating that devolution is a foreign aspect and anyone who talks about it would have been sent by the Westerners. All these gimmicks could be motivated by the quest by the former ruling party to justify violence ahead of the next general election. Honestly what could be the bone of contention when two parties are agreeable to the constitution? This requires them to go side by side in support of yes vote in the referendum. Politically would this not be an endorsement of MDC by ZANU PF? After such an endorsement, during elections would it be sane, to retreat and refer MDC as imperialist driven. A level headed person will obviously question why they were walking together all along. It will be as difficult as taking Kereke (the dumped former advisor of Reserve Bank Governor) seriously in his attacks against the RBZ Governor.

One then might wonder why ZANU PF was wasting time on a document which they would reject. The answer can be, maybe they wanted to buy time and test the ground and to also oil their militia using UNDP funds. We will know soon, watch this space for more on these issues.

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