|
By Lance Guma
17 December 2009
A Constitutional Select Committee, meant to drive the process towards a new constitution, announced on Wednesday that it will resume its work on the 4th January next year. Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara, the three political party principals in the coalition government, are expected to officially launch the process on the 7th January.
Co-chairperson’s of the select committee, Paul Mangwana (ZANU PF) Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T) and Edward Mkhosi (MDC-M), held a joint press conference in Harare to announce the names of the thematic committee members. Among those picked for the different committees are Raymond Majongwe, Lucia Matibenga, Bishop Goodwill Shana, Munyaradzi Gwisai, Joshua Malinga, Gertrude Hambira and Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe.
A combination of deliberate ZANU PF disruptions and lack of money had hampered the process and caused it to miss all its deadlines. In July ZANU PF youths had stormed the first all stake-holders conference at the Rainbow Towers, disrupting proceedings, booing speakers and clashing with rival delegates. On the money front Mangwana told journalists the government had since set aside US$43 million, while the United Nations Development Programme provided US$2 million to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
Training of the thematic committees will begin on the 4th January and start with members of parliament, then civil society leaders. This training is expected to end on the 10th January after which consultations with members of the public should begin. The entire process is now expected to be completed by July or August 2010.
‘The committees are expected to go to the provinces and gather people's views on specific subjects and then report back to the full select committee. After the consultation process the thematic committees will then synthesize and debate on the information,’ Mangwana said on Wednesday. Mwonzora meanwhile said they had set aside 65 days for the constitution process, but in the event that more time was needed, the period could be extended.
Several civil society leaders have already expressed reservations that the final outcome will not reflect a constitution desired by Zimbabweans, but will merely be a document that reflects the trade-offs made by the political parties.
| 