ZIMBABWE’S fraught constitutional reform exercise has been thrown into further confusion after President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party threatened to back the ‘No Vote’ during the referendum for its adoption.
A parliamentary committee is currently spearheading the gathering of public views on the new charter which, once drafted, is expected to be put to a public vote leading to general elections for a substantive government.
However, the MDC party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has already said it will not endorse the constitution if the final draft does not reflect the “will of the people”.
“We are expecting a constitution, but we are not happy with the way things are being handled," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa was reported as saying last week.
“If the new constitution does not reflect the will of the people, we will reject it. We will only accept constitutions that reflect the will of the people."
In response, Nathaniel Manheru, a columnist for state-run Herald newspaper, who is believed to be President Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, said should the MDC campaign against the new charter it would find itself in fairly “inclusive” company.
Writing in the Saturday edition of the newspaper Manheru said: “Then comes this ruse from little-witted Chamisa, threatening to campaign for a 'No' Vote. Has that man and his party ever stopped to ask a simple question: Who needs a 'Yes' Vote?
“One thing is clear, very clear. Should the MDC-T decide to campaign for a 'No' Vote, it shall find itself in a perfectly inclusive effort, with Zanu PF by its side, (Lovemore) Madhuku yelping from behind.”
Manheru suggested it would be the height of political foolishness for the MDC-T to campaign against the new constitution.
He added: “And the morning after results of this inclusive effort, Zimbabwe will wake up to the current constitution, with all its Zanu PF swarthes, and with its little, untidy MDC patches.
“Hurray! But to expect MDC-T to be exercised by commonsense is to grant them an impossible favour."
Writing a new constitution was part of a raft of reform measures agreed under the political deal signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai but the effort is already a year behind schedule, undermined by political squabbles and the lack of funds.
Civil society organisations, led by the National Constitutional Assembly, have already said they would not back the new charter claiming the drafting exercise is not “people-driven”.
They also allege that political parties are bussing supporters coached on what to say at outreach meetings in a bid to influence the content of the constitution.