Madhuku blasts MDC-T

Prof Madhuku, whose NCA risks irrelevance if outstanding issues around the Copac draft constitution are ironed out and the document sails through a referendum and is adopted as the supreme law of Zimbabwe as expected early next year, was particularly peeved by the MDC-T’s apparent indifference to him and his organisation.

“We have bad relations with the MDC-T. Until we resolve the constitution issue we will not work with the MDC-T. They have no principles, no nothing. We are together historically in the NCA and because we formed the MDC together but as it is we want nothing to do with them. They are people who are just out to make money for themselves, to enrich themselves at the expense of the people,” said an emotionally-charged Prof Madhuku.

He said the NCA would campaign for a NO vote in the referendum because they believe the Copac draft document has flaws and would not produce an acceptable constitution.

Prof Madhuku, however, said he believed elections would be held without fail in March next year “with or without the new constitution”.

“There is no need for the NCA to keep on talking of Vote NO for the referendum because there is no referendum to talk about. As NCA we are now saying that elections must be held without the constitution and deal with the issue later, whoever wins the elections.

“There is no referendum to talk about because of what is happening. What we are likely to see is a mock referendum after parties have done the usual negotiations.”

Prof Madhuku blasted Mr Biti, accusing him of misleading Zimbabweans abroad into believing that the draft constitution provided for a Diaspora vote.

He said Mr Biti was in the habit of making misleading statements over the issue.

“There are some lawyers who think that they are the ones who know. Tendai Biti has been lying to the nation about the Diaspora vote… he even writes rubbish in the independent media lying to the people.

“Biti forgets that even after he joined the inclusive Government three years ago there are lawyers who have been produced in the country who now know that what he is saying is not correct,” said Prof Madhuku.

Parties in the inclusive Government have agreed that logistical challenges make a Diaspora vote impossible.

Zanu-PF has also argued that illegal sanctions imposed by the West also block the party from campaigning in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The workshop, convened by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network ahead of harmonised elections next year, also saw participants engaging representatives of the three political parties in the inclusive Government.

Mr Psychology Maziwisa (Zanu-PF), Mr Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) and Mr Qhubani Moyo (MDC) took turns to outline the nature of their relationship with the media during election periods.

Debate centred on the parties’ attitudes towards journalists before, during and after the polls.

Journalists were particularly concerned about their safety in the course of their work as they covered various political parties’ activities.

On their part, the political parties bemoaned biased coverage and a polarised media environment which shortchanged the electorate.

Mr Maziwisa said Zanu-PF was a victim of a media onslaught from the so-called private media which had a pathological hatred for President Mugabe and his party while turning a blind eye to the excesses of the MDC formations.

He was supported by Mr Moyo who said some so-called independent papers were extensions of propaganda departments of certain political parties.