“We don’t want violence. Please no quarrelling, no violence and no conflicts when views differ on political grounds,” President Robert Mugabe said as he launched the constitutional outreach exercise in Harare alongside Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambara.
The long delayed constitutional outreach exercise will run until October to be followed by a referendum that will allow Zimbabweans to have final say on the draft charter.
The government is expected to call fresh elections once a new constitution is in place although there is no legal requirement for it to do so, while Tsvangirai and Mugabe have differed on when a new vote can be held.
Mugabe has insisted new polls should be held most probably next year whether or not there is a new constitution while Tsvangirai has said elections must be preceded by a new and democratic constitution.
Speaking during the same occasion to launch the outreach exercise, Tsvangirai, who has previously accused hardliner elements within Mugabe’s ZANU PF party of blocking democratic reforms, said those resisting change would fail.
“Those that resist change may attempt to delay the democratic process (but) the will of the people cannot be denied and their voices cannot be silenced,” Tsvangirai said.
“There is no reason for violence, let us never forgive those who would want to disrupt and violate the will of the people,” added the Prime Minister.
Mutambara called on political leaders to create conditions conducive to peaceful dialogue over the new constitution. “As politicians we have an obligation to allow for peace in this country. We should make sure we the condition in this country allows for proper conversation which will give a people driven constitution.”
The inordinate delays to start the outreach exercise have helped damage the credibility of the constitutional reforms that have also been tainted by reports of alleged violence and intimidation by soldiers and ZANU PF supporters campaigning for the adoption of the controversial Kariba draft constitution as the basis of the proposed new charter.
ZANU PF and the two MDC formations of Tsvangirai and Mutambara secretly authored the Kariba draft in 2007 but critics say the document should be discarded because it leaves untouched the immense presidential powers that analysts say Mugabe has used to stifle opposition to his rule for the past three decades.
Zimbabweans hope a new constitution will guarantee human rights, strengthen the role of Parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guaranteeing civil, political and media freedoms. -- ZimOnline
