Biti, Madhuku clash

Professor Lovemore Madhuku and some civic organisations campaigned for a “No” vote at the just ended constitution referendum arguing that politicians should not take part in the process as they would seek to protect their political interests.

Contributing to the Constitution Amendment Bill debate in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Biti who is also Finance Minister said individuals whose organisations opposed the adoption of the constitution sought to mislead people by claiming that they were people-driven.

“I say so because there has been a debate and a feeling in some individuals, that if I have got my own NGO, I am people-driven. You might be wife-driven or whatever but you are not people-driven . . ., so I speak from experience.

“I do not apologise for that. Parliament is the only organisation in this country that can claim legitimacy and proximation with the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“Therefore, it was important for this process to be people-driven and the only group of people in this country who can claim to have resemblance and accountability are the Members of Parliament.

“Anyone who says it was not people driven, he is seeking to redefine the concept of people-hood, the concept of legitimation, the concept of ownership.”

Minister Biti said one fundamental concept that made a constitution pass the test of legitimacy was that it should be people-driven. He said the Lancaster House Constitution was not born of a Zimbabwean process.

“For the first time, we now have a document that we can say was written by Zimbabweans and for Zimbabweans.”
Prof Madhuku campaigned for a No Vote in the just ended referendum which was overwhelmingly endorsed by Zimbabweans.

There is no love lost between MDC-T and the NCA with Prof Madhuku expressing disappointment with the calibre of the MDC-T leadership saying he would launch a political party after the harmonised elections that he said the MDC-T would lose.