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Constitution on Monday.
In a meeting with outgoing Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Xin Shunkang in Harare yesterday, PM Tsvangirai said the principals were expecting a complete draft from the management committee without fail.
Mr Xin, who is leaving the country on May 11, was bidding farewell to the PM. The management committee has however, indicated that it is not ready to deliver the document to the principals before the outstanding issues are resolved.
“Despite having differences with other Global Political leaders, at the moment we are all preoccupied with the draft Constitution,” said PM Tsvangirai.
“We have seen the first incomplete draft but as principals we are expecting the final official draft on Monday without fail. The only difference we have is on devolution and we expect Copac to have dealt with that come Monday.
“I am told there was agreement on the other contentious issue that is (dual) citizenship.”
“We are not sliding back, after receiving the draft we will outline the various steps that will lead to a referendum before working on the date for elections that will be announced by the President,” he said.
He told Mr Xin that Zimbabwe appreciated the contribution China had made to the country’s economy.
“We hope that Zimbabwe will continue doing business with China as we continue to cement these relations. I will also be travelling to China later this month and this shows that we enjoy cordial relations with China,” he said.
Mr Xin said outstanding projects between the two countries will be completed even after his departure.
“There has been stability for the years that I have been in the country and I hope things will continue this way for the better of the economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Xin Shunkang said his country has no intentions of becoming a military superpower that bullies weaker countries. He said its intention was to lead global economic growth and maintain world peace. The ambassador said this while giving a lecture on China-Africa relations in Southern Africa at the Southern Africa Research and Documentation Centre. Ambassador Xin said China had recorded phenomenal growth in the past 33 years due to its policies that focused on
development.
“We do not want to grow militarily and attack small countries saying if you do not do this or that we will invade you because one day your bad deeds will punish you. We believe in doing good things to others, even the Bible says that,” he said.
“China is a responsible member of the global economy and has contributed a lot to global economic growth.”
Ambassador Xin said his country had defended weaker nations at the international stage as shown by its veto together with Russia and other progressive countries against machinations by the West to abuse the UN by imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter