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Update 4: Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said on Monday a new constitution was necessary and strongly condemned clashes between political rivals that halted a conference aimed at drafting reforms.
A convention to draw up a new constitution descended into chaos on Monday as riot police broke up clashes between rival delegates, underscoring the tensions within a unity government Mugabe formed with arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai in February.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai met to discuss the disturbances after riot police drove the delegates out of the venue and cordoned it off. The two, along with Arthur Mutambara who heads a splinter faction of Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), jointly addressed the media after their meeting.
“We are here to say that we will not brook any further disturbances in the future. We must have this constitution done, it’s a necessity,” Mugabe told reporters.
“We feel disturbed and we have a sense of abhorrence with what happened this morning. What happened is not in accordance with the letter and spirit of the global political agreement. This is not the time to be shouting insults to each other.”
Tsvangirai said he hoped the parliamentary committee driving the constitutional reforms would regroup and resume the process.
“We had provided our people with hope and we have people trying to undermine that hope,” Tsvangirai said.
“I hope that the speaker of parliament and the parliamentary select committee can put the process back on rail as soon as possible because we need this constitution.”
NATIONAL INTERESTS
Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai ruled out a probe into the causes of the disruptions, stressing it was important to move forward.
“The question of whoever orchestrated that disruption is neither here nor there, we need to move forward for the benefit of the people. Let us put national interests above partisan interests,” Tsvangirai said.
UPDATE 3: The councillor for ward 6 in Bindura Rural and MDC’s Mashonaland Central province organising secretary, Gilson Chitakunye, today sustained serious head injuries after he was brutally assaulted by Zanu PF thugs who violently disrupted the All Stakeholders Constitutional Conference in Harare. Chitakunye was attending the two-day first All Stakeholders Conference when rowdy Zanu PF youths, led by Zanu PF Politiburo member Saviour Kasukuwere, disrupted the event.
Clr Chitakunye was attacked by an unknown object. He is currently detained in a private clinic in Harare hospital.
Video of disturbance via BBC is here
UPDATE 2: This update is courtesy of SOKWANELE
Another report has come in from a member of civic society who attended the morning’s shambolic conference.
Early this morning, Zanu PF supporters were ushered into the lower level of the conference centre, leaving the less accessible upper floors for the MDC and civic organisations to crowd into.
Our witness reported that when Lovemore Moyo started his speech it was none other than Saviour Kasukuwere (see a profile on Kasukuwere here) along with another MP, who started the riotous singing that drowned out the Speaker’s address. ZimOnline have a report corroborating involvement of youths loyal to Kasukuwere and also to Patrick Zhuwawo, Robert Mugabe’s nephew.
In Shona they started singing Zanu PF songs and slogans which include inflammatory words like,
“We are doing what we did in June, winning”
“We are doing away with the Prime Minister”
“Zimbabwe is liberated with blood”
Minister Moyo’s attempts to calm the crowd resulted in him being showered with water, beer and alcohol.
Once the riot police finally arrived, they attempted to ascend to the upper floor, but were blocked entry by the MDC and the civics ensconced there. The police finally backed off , leading away only the most vocal of the Zanu spoilers.
Once the chaos had quieted the civics “snuck” away, but a few decided to brave the food queues. Their attempts were unsuccessful as the Zanu supporters were in the majority and not in any mood to share the free meal on offer.
The word is that even if the authorities do manage to reconvene, the civic delegates will not return to participate in the political mud-slinging match, which is bound to descend to further exchange of insults and possibly worse.
UPDATE : MDC lawmaker and co-chairperson on the parliamentary committee driving the constitutional reforms, Douglas Mwonzora, said the conference would resume following an agreement by political leaders.
“We cannot give in to hooliganism. We have agreed as political leaders that the conference will reconvene at 3 pm (1300 GMT),” Mwonzora said.
“The principals of the three main political parties will address the conference today.”
Zanu PF thugs today disrupted the Constitutional All-Stakeholders’ Conference at the Harare International Conference Centre after they hurled abuse at the Speaker of Parliament and brought the proceedings to virtual chaos.
The thugs were led by Zanu PF youth leader and Mt Darwin South MP Saviour Kasukuwere, Zvimba East MP and President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwawo, disgraced self-styled war veterans leader Joseph Chinotimba and former Hatcliffe MP, Nyasha Chikwinya.
The Zanu PF-induced chaos is obviously meant to derail the Constitution-making process and to prevent the people of Zimbabwe from writing their own Constitution.
Zanu PF has chosen to disrupt a Constitutional process enshrined in the Global Political Agreement. Zanu PF has not only walked out but disrupted a roadmap clearly defined by SADC and the AU as the only route to having legitimate leadership in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF has clearly relapsed into its violent mode to fight a legitimate national programme.
Judging by today’s events, Zanu PF MPs and the party’s delegates were clearly reading from a script whose sole agenda is to derail the Constitution-making process. First it was the failed attempt to foist the Kariba draft on the people. Second was the attempt to cheat on the accreditation process by bussing thousands of innocent old men and women to the venue. Now they have publicly declared war against the people of Zimbabwe who want a Constitution by themselves and for themselves.
The plot is clear. The idea is to derail the Constitution-making process so as to delay the holding of free and fair elections which will inevitably see Zanu PF confined to the archives.
The MDC is a party of excellence. We urge SADC and the AU to immediately intervene to save the Constitution-making process which is under threat from Zanu PF thugs who have consistently shown their disdain of the GPA, to which they have appended their signature.
These are the same people who have refused to convene the National Security Council as enshrined in the Constitution. These are the people who have pursued a persecution agenda against the MDC MPs, members and civic groups. They have refused to swear-in Senator Roy Bennett as deputy Agriculture and to bring finality to other outstanding issues such as governors, ambassadors and Permanent Secretaries. These are the same people who have stood in the way of an amicable resolution of the contentious issues of the Reserve Bank Governor and the Attorney-General.
Zanu PF can run but cannot hide. The people’s project can only be delayed but not abandoned.
Additional reporting: Reuters
Why did they not accredit ZANU PF delegates yesterday. You thought you could paly games with the revolutionary children of Zimbabwe? Handiti manga muchida kufambisa ndima vari muque yeaccreditation.
ZANU maioaka imi vapambepfumi.
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pedzisai zanu is a party of fools we can now all see that, why disrupt this important exercise pasi nemi. zanu yawora you cannot cheat us forever, read Obama’s speech in Ghana you idiot pedzisai.
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MDC must now BOYCOTT the process and ask the WEST to increase targeted sanctions…MDC must ask SADC to intervene….
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SADC is rubbish at the moment Gog bless Morgan and all MDC guys who want to see progress in Zim together with the Zanu guys who also want to see some real change
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This is what really Happened! http://www.newsnet.co.zw
GPA principals condemn disruptions at conference
Posted: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:49:44 +0200
The first Constitutional All Stakeholders Conference failed to take off in Harare as the poorly planned meeting turned into chaos with members of ZCTU, NCA, ZINASU and MDC leading in disrupting the proceedings.
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement, GPA, Head of State and Government, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara have condemned the disruptions of the proceedings of the First Constitutional All Stakeholders Conference at the Harare International Conference Centre yesterday.
The three principals were speaking to journalists at Zimbabwe House in Harare.
President Mugabe said they will not brook any further disruptions to the constitution making process and those who did it stand warned.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai said whoever is behind yesterday’s disruptions should be reminded that the move has been costly to all the political parties, the country and Zimbabweans in general.
He said the three principals to the GPA want Parliamentary Speaker, Lovemore Moyo to put back the process back on track.
Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara said what happened was a challenge to the GPA and to the three principals and should not be allowed to happen again.
He said they are not looking to play the blame game but are determined to proceed with the benchmarks laid by the GPA.
Riot Police had to move in to avert a riotous situation when stakeholders from ZANU PF and the war veterans reacted to provocation.
Attracting about four thousand delegates most of them not accredited, what started as a meeting to mark the beginning of the constitutional making process for Zimbabwe turned into what can be described as two political rallies at one venue.
The chaos started when delegates complained that there was no national flag at the high table. The national flag meant to show that this was a national event was only brought in when organizers realized things were getting out of hand.
As if that was not enough, delegates had to demand the singing of the national anthem, which marks proceedings at all national events.
War veterans saved the day and led in the singing of the national anthem.
Temperatures continued to rise with every minute passing as delegates began to question delays in the arrivals of the three principals, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Author Mutambara who were billed to deliver keynote spe****s.
However, the organizers had not invited the principals, only informing them in the morning. ZBC news is informed the principals were surprised to be told they are part of the proceedings just before the conference started.
The situation was worsened by MDC-T supporters some of who were wearing t-shirts written ‘No to the Kariba Draft.’
They started chanting slogans, with the Constititutional Select Committee failing to control them. ZANU PF supporters reacted by singing revolutionary songs resulting in total chaos engulfing the conference centre.
All hell broke loose when Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Lovemore Moyo, who was leading the constitutional team, waved an open palm, a symbol of the MDC-T on arrival in the conference room.
It appeared the sign did not go down well with war veterans who stood up and interrupted his speech as they felt the Speaker was being partisan.
It later became clear that the proceedings were heading nowhere as the high table and cabinet ministers, house of assembly members, chiefs and several delegates stormed out of the conference centre as it became clear the select committee could no longer control the situation.
Police had to be called in to bring order as delegates from MDC-T led by its Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, remained sitting while ZANU PF supporters walked out amidst confusion on whether the meeting was to go ahead.
One student from ZINASU who was part of the MDC-T supporters was arrested after he assaulted ZANU PF house of assembly members Cde Patrick Zhuwao.
However the Select Committee on Constitutional Making had to convene an emergency meeting and indications are that they were to brief the three principals on the aborted conference.
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GPA principals condemn disruptions at conference
Posted: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:49:44 +0200
The first Constitutional All Stakeholders Conference failed to take off in Harare as the poorly planned meeting turned into chaos with members of ZCTU, NCA, ZINASU and MDC leading in disrupting the proceedings.
The three principals to the Global Political Agreement, GPA, Head of State and Government, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara have condemned the disruptions of the proceedings of the First Constitutional All Stakeholders Conference at the Harare International Conference Centre yesterday.
The three principals were speaking to journalists at Zimbabwe House in Harare.
President Mugabe said they will not brook any further disruptions to the constitution making process and those who did it stand warned.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai said whoever is behind yesterday’s disruptions should be reminded that the move has been costly to all the political parties, the country and Zimbabweans in general.
He said the three principals to the GPA want Parliamentary Speaker, Lovemore Moyo to put back the process back on track.
Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara said what happened was a challenge to the GPA and to the three principals and should not be allowed to happen again.
He said they are not looking to play the blame game but are determined to proceed with the benchmarks laid by the GPA.
Riot Police had to move in to avert a riotous situation when stakeholders from ZANU PF and the war veterans reacted to provocation.
Attracting about four thousand delegates most of them not accredited, what started as a meeting to mark the beginning of the constitutional making process for Zimbabwe turned into what can be described as two political rallies at one venue.
The chaos started when delegates complained that there was no national flag at the high table. The national flag meant to show that this was a national event was only brought in when organizers realized things were getting out of hand.
As if that was not enough, delegates had to demand the singing of the national anthem, which marks proceedings at all national events.
War veterans saved the day and led in the singing of the national anthem.
Temperatures continued to rise with every minute passing as delegates began to question delays in the arrivals of the three principals, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Author Mutambara who were billed to deliver keynote spe****s.
However, the organizers had not invited the principals, only informing them in the morning. ZBC news is informed the principals were surprised to be told they are part of the proceedings just before the conference started.
The situation was worsened by MDC-T supporters some of who were wearing t-shirts written ‘No to the Kariba Draft.’
They started chanting slogans, with the Constititutional Select Committee failing to control them. ZANU PF supporters reacted by singing revolutionary songs resulting in total chaos engulfing the conference centre.
All hell broke loose when Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Lovemore Moyo, who was leading the constitutional team, waved an open palm, a symbol of the MDC-T on arrival in the conference room.
It appeared the sign did not go down well with war veterans who stood up and interrupted his speech as they felt the Speaker was being partisan.
It later became clear that the proceedings were heading nowhere as the high table and cabinet ministers, house of assembly members, chiefs and several delegates stormed out of the conference centre as it became clear the select committee could no longer control the situation.
Police had to be called in to bring order as delegates from MDC-T led by its Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, remained sitting while ZANU PF supporters walked out amidst confusion on whether the meeting was to go ahead.
One student from ZINASU who was part of the MDC-T supporters was arrested after he assaulted ZANU PF house of assembly members Cde Patrick Zhuwao.
However the Select Committee on Constitutional Making had to convene an emergency meeting and indications are that they were to brief the three principals on the aborted conference.
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