admin
Cde Paul Mangwana over control of the drafting process.
Minister Matinenga on Monday told the drafters to ignore Cde Mangwana’s instruction to the drafters to stop the drafting process until they were given guidance.
Cde Mangwana argued that the drafters ignored the national report that contained information gathered from Zimbabweans during the outreach programme.
The Select Committee yesterday resolved to summon the drafters to appear before the committee today to explain why they were ignoring the national report.
Minister Matinenga accused Cde Mangwana of acting outside his mandate.
“With respect to the unilateral position communicated to the drafters by Mr Mangwana regarding this very special relationship is certainly not in accordance with the spirit of the discussion held with the three of you in my office,” Minister Matinenga said.
ALSO SEE
“If there is disagreement regarding the draft chapters done, then the dispute resolution which we have always followed should be engaged i.e. the co-chairpersons refer the dispute to the Select Committee which in turn refers to Management Committee if it can’t resolve the dispute.
“With respect, Mr Mangwana’s unilateral position has no merit.
“It is contrary to established procedure and until such time that a common position is communicated, the drafters must be left to carry out their work without hindrance.”
Cde Mangwana yesterday hit back at Minister Matinenga accusing him of giving himself the mandate he does not have.
“The contents of your letter amount to gross interference with the work of the Select Committee and its relationship with its subcommittees in particular the Drafting Committee. I believe that you are exceeding your jurisdiction.
“We appointed the Drafters as a Select Committee.
“They entered into a contract with us and not the Ministry. If they are any problems between Copac as the Principal and the Drafters as Agents, that will be resolved by Copac. Your unsolicited opinion is not welcome,” Cde Mangwana said.
In Copac, Cde Mangwana said he has a mandate to represent his party’s (Zanu-PF) interests.
He said once he is convinced that the process is prejudicial to Zan-PF’s interests, he has a right to withdraw his consent to whatever process that will be going on.
Cde Mangwana said the drafters could only continue drafting if all parties are agreed to the process and are happy with it.
“I do not agree with the mandate the Drafters appear to have given themselves and I have withdrawn my party’s consent to what they are doing. The Select Committee is seized with this matter and it shall be communicating its position to the Drafters.
“I appeal to you to wait for the briefings you shall receive through the appropriate channels.
“The Drafters remain answerable to the Select committee. With due respect, you have no mandate to tell the Drafters what to do or what not to do,” Cde Mangwana said.
Cde Mangwana and his MDC counterpart, Mr Edward Mkhosi said the drafters were supposed to explain their position while the Select Committee would be giving them guidance.
“We have summoned the drafters to appear before the Select Committee tomorrow for them to tell us what happened to the draft,” Mr Mkhosi said.
“They must come and clear the air so that we can move forward, we need to get out of this mud. We will also clarify their terms of reference.”
Cde Mangwana added: “We maintain our position as Zanu-PF that if they are not given instructions by Copac they should not continue drafting.
“They should come and tell us why they ignored the national report and we will also give them drafting instructions.”
Online Reporter