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The amended document that 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 confirmed the finalisation of the audit that brought a raft of changes to the document adopted by the other parties to the GPA.
“As a body, Politburo has concluded the work that was before it. We say no to the issues of running mates and want Vice-Presidents to be appointed,” Cde Gumbo said.
Section 5.5 (2) of the draft constitution stipulates that (2) “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 also 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.
Cde Gumbo said yesterday the Politburo was merely editing the amended document as contentious issues had long been dealt with in previous sessions.
“As a party, we are all excited that we have finally concluded this thing. The ball is now in the principals’ court. They are the ones who will guide us on what to do next,” he said.
Zanu-PF meticulously audited the draft constitution against the national report after observing that its Copac representatives had dealt casually with issues the revolutionary party considers sensitive.
Among several other things, Copac had left out issues to do with the role of traditional leaders, youths and women.
On Wednesday, principals to the GPA separately met the Sadc appointed facilitator to the Zimbabwean dialogue South African President Jacob Zuma and briefed him on progress made in the implementation of the agreement.
President Mugabe told the facilitator that “the process has moved globally towards the making of the constitution with the view to reaching a stage of referendum and elections”.
The constitution-making process, he said, has reached a stage where principals have been served with the draft constitution and each party was considering the draft.
“There would be discussions to exchange ideas as principals and thereafter we hand over the draft to the stakeholders, so there would be a stakeholders’ stage which will discuss the constitution as a draft and possibly make amendments,” said President Mugabe.
The draft would then be handed over to Parliament for further discussions and possible changes before it is subjected to a referendum.
Online Reporter