MDC wants constitutional overhaul

MDC wants constitutional overhaul

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By Torby Chimhashu

ZIMBABWE'S opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) will only support government plans to hold the Presidential and Parliamentary concurrently in 2010 if a new constitution is agreed, the party said.

The MDC insists that instead of extending President Robert Mugabe's term to 2010 through a planned constitutional amendment, the ruling Zanu PF party should initiate moves for a total overhaul of the existing constitution.

Tendai Biti, the verbose secretary general of a faction of the opposition party said Zimbabwe needed a "homegrown" constitution.

The MDC protests, however, are unlikely to cause any upsets as Zanu PF commands a sweeping parliamentary majority. Zanu PF MPs rarely rebel against their own party and government.

Biti said: "Harmonisation of elections must include all elections. This raises a constitutional issue. We need to revisit the constitutional debate and resolve the constitutional issue.

"Zimbabwe needs devolution of power. Everything is held by Mugabe. The constitution must limit the term of the President. Zimbabwe is the only country
that probably has a leader who is above the laws of diminishing returns."

Mugabe's ruling party's central committee is expected to vote on Thursday this week allowing the 82-year-old leader to stay on in power until at least 2010.

Mugabe's term expires in 2008.

Among the planned amendments would be a re-introduction of the Prime Minister.

The MDC says the term extension gives Mugabe enough time to re-organise his divided party while at the same time returning Zimbabwe to the Westminster type of government where the Prime Minister is in charge of the day-to-day running of the country.

Before the Unity Accord of 1987, Zimbabwe had titular President and the Prime Minister, who in this case was Mugabe, who became President on 22 December 1987 after the unification of Zanu PF and PF Zapu.

Biti said: "It is quite clear that the situation of having unsyncronised elections is wasteful and unsustainable. That is the problem in this country. Every year we are having elections.

"In 2005 we had Parliamentary elections, this year we held Rural District Council elections. Next year we will have Urban Council elections. In 2008 Presidential elections, 2009 Rural District Elections and 2010, Parliamentary elections.

"This is clearly a result of the constitutional problems. While we claim that Zimbabwe is a sovereign country, our constitution is a Statutory Instrument of
the UK Parliament. We need a constitution for Zimbabweans by Zimbabweans."

The MDC joins a chorus by many civic groups including the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) who have been agitating for constitutional reforms which they say are key to shaping the political landscape of
Zimbabwe.

The NCA, has repeatedly staged demonstrations aimed at forcing the government to reform the constitution.

But President Mugabe has said Zimbabweans had an opportunity which they threw out of the window on February 12 and 13 in 2000 when the country held a referendum on constitutional reforms.

A Zanu PF sponsored draft constitution was defeated by an NCA-led 'No Vote'.

Mugabe has rejected calls for a new constitution, saying the current document was "dear and sacrosanct" to him.

Mugabe's plans to stay on have upset even some of his colleagues in the party. Sources say Vice President Joice Mujuru, backed by other senior figures, wanted Mugabe to set a clear exit plan.

And the MDC has warned that Mugabe may yet stay beyond 2010, effectively making him a life president.

Biti said: "What Zanu PF is trying to do has no relation to the issue of harmonisation of the elections. It is playing the succession issue which mirrors the problems within the party itself.

"It shows Mugabe's insatiable megalomaniac desire to hold onto power. He wants to be life President. In 2010, he will find anther excuse for
holding onto power. He has no skin on his face."

Biti said Emerson Mnangagwa, Mujuru's fiercest rival, was supporting the extension of Mugabe's rule not because he likes the veteran leader, but because it blocks Mujuru's path to the top job.

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