adminPolitburo concludes draft audit
Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF yesterday concluded its audit of the draft Constitution against the national report after the Politburo met for the fourth time in as many weeks.
The amended document, which sources say explicitly outlaws homosexuality and same-sex marriages among other things, will now be handed over to the principals to the Global Political Agreement for guidance on the way forward.
‘‘These (changes to the draft Constitution) are not arbitrary or self-serving amendments, but are in keeping with what the people said during the outreach,’’ said a source close to developments.
Zanu-PF national spokesman Cde Rugare Gumbo said the Politburo had concluded the work that was before it.
“We say no to the issues of running mates and want Vice Presidents to be appointed.”
Section 5.5 (2) of the draft Constitution stipulates that ‘‘Every candidate for election as President must nominate two persons to stand for election jointly with him or her as his or her Vice-Presidents, and must designate one of those persons as his or her candidate for first Vice-President and the other as his or her candidate for second Vice-President.’’
Zanu-PF rejected attempts by some forces to dilute the powers of the Attorney-General’s Office through the creation of a national prosecuting authority.
“The office of the AG has to be retained and we say no to the national prosecuting authority,” Cde Gumbo said.
The party also rejected dual citizenship.
Britain faces diplomatic spat over Assange
THE British government has come under fire after threatening to storm the Ecuadorian embassy in London to seize WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who was granted asylum there.
Embassies are deemed sovereign territories in terms of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
They enjoy extraterritorial status and are afforded special privileges such as immunity from most local laws, as such the host country may not enter the representing country’s embassy without permission.
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Ecuador’s Ambassador to London, Ana Alban, was notified that British authorities “could assault” the embassy, if Assange “was not handed over”.
The British government had said it was “determined” to extradite Assange to Sweden to face charges of sexual assault.
“The UK has a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden . . . and we remain determined to fulfil this obligation,” said a Foreign Office spokesman.
In Quito, Patino called Britain’s threat a “hostile and unfriendly act” that violates “clear international norms.” “We are not a British colony,” he added.
Patino said the Ecuadorian government would keep “loyal to its tradition to protect those who seek refuge with us at our diplomatic missions”.
He said the decision was made after Britain, Sweden and the United States refused to guarantee that Assange would not be extradited to the United States for trial over his release of a mass of classified US documents.
Patino said Ecuador was worried, if Assange was extradited to the United States, he would not receive a fair trial, adding it was a “sovereign decision” protected by international law.
Sadc summit opens in Maputo
From Farai Dzirutwe in MAPUTO, Mozambique
President Mugabe arrived here yesterday for the 32nd Ordinary Sadc Summit which starts today.
Villagers run amok over doctor
Peter Matambanadzo and Phyllis Kachere
AT least 12 villagers were arrested after they allegedly attacked police and overturned a pick-up truck in protest against the pending transfer of a doctor based at Howard Mission Hospital in Chiweshe yesterday.
Police had to fire tear gas to disperse nearly 1 000 violent demonstrators who started the protest inside the hospital.
The demonstration started at around 12:30pm after chief medical officer, Dr Paul Thistle, was served with a letter of transfer by Salvation Army officers to vacate the mission hospital.
A witness said rowdy youths from villages around the hospital were joined by staff in the demonstration.
“They attacked the Salvation Army officers who brought the transfer letter and overturned a white pick-up truck.”
Riot police were called in to stop the demonstration in which police were reportedly attacked with stones and other weapons.
Mashonaland Central police Chief Superintendent Shepherd Chiwoko said they were investigating the case to bring those responsible for the violence to book.
“We are not going to leave any stone unturned. All those responsible will be arrested,” he said.
Chief Supt Chiwoko said Dr Thistle’s case was an internal Salvation Army matter that the police could not interfere with.
He said it should be resolved amicably.
Experts call PM Tsvangirai’s bluff over draft constitution
Lloyd Gumbo Herald Reporter
LEGAL and political analysts say political party leaders have authority to effect
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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
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Unknown sect tried to visit Njelele: War vets
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Fuel prices go up six cents
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Councillors want CEO dismissed
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