Speaker of Parliament said the constitution making process would cost US$19 million but the ministries that were responsible- Finance and Constitutional Affairs- were revisiting the figure.
The final figure was, however, reported to have more than doubled this figure and was estimated at US$45 million.
Constitutional Committee co-chairman Douglas Mwonzora also warned that the process should be completed in the 18-months stipulated in the Global Political Agreement as this could cause problems but the process took more than double the time.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09HARARE526, HOUSE SPEAKER BRIEFS ON ZIM CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS
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FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4658
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000526
SENSITIVE
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DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR J. HARMON AND L. DOBBINS
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: HOUSE SPEAKER BRIEFS ON ZIM CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS
REF: HARARE 525
——-
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (SBU) House of Assembly Speaker Lovemore Moyo briefed
diplomats June 24 on the constitutional process. According
to Moyo, it is on track, as specified in the Global Political
Agreement (GPA), to be completed within 18 months from the
inception of the inclusive government on February 11.
Current budget estimates for the entire process are US$19
million, although this is being reviewed. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (SBU) House of Assembly Speaker Moyo briefed diplomats on
the constitutional process on June 24. He was joined by
Senate President Edna Madzongwe (ZANU-PF) and Douglas
Mwonzora (MDC-T) who chairs the Select Committee on the
Constitution along with Paul Mangwana (ZANU-PF) and David
Coltart (MDC-M).
¶3. (SBU) Moyo told diplomats the constitutional process was
on track. The preparatory phase was now underway. Members
of the Select Committee and staff were visiting the provinces
to identify stakeholders and to identify possible thematic
subcommittees. Preparations would then be made for the first
“All Stakeholders Conference” to be held between July 9 and
July 12 this year. At the Conference, subcommittees would be
constituted.
¶4. (SBU) Between July 13 and November 13, according to Moyo,
a consultative phase would take place in which the
subcommittees would solicit input from citizens around the
country. Also, a coordination structure would be
established. After this phase, each thematic subcommittee,
with the aid of experts, would produce reports and submit
them to a yet-to-be-constituted drafting committee.
¶5. (SBU) Moyo appealed for donor assistance. He said the
draft budget is US$19 million, although the government
ministries (finance and constitutional affairs), which are
responsible for funding the process, were revisiting this
figure. He also noted the government was considering
establishing a trust fund to collect and disburse monies.
¶6. (SBU) Mwonzora insisted the 18-month time frame for the
drafting of a new constitution should not be extended. To do
so would require renegotiating the Global Political Agreement
(GPA) and risk renegotiation of other issues as well.
¶7. (SBU) ZANU-PF and Mugabe have strongly advocated using a
draft developed by Patrick Chinamasa (ZANU-PF), Tendai Biti
(MDC-T) and Welshman Ncube (MDC-M) in 2007 after the
commencement of the SADC mediation process, as the basis of
the new constitution. The 2007 negotiations took place at
Lake Kariba, and the resulting document is referred to as the
Kariba draft. The stated rationale of ZANU-PF and Mugabe for
using the Kariba draft is that it is a known quantity agreed
to by all three parties and its adoption, or a near
facsimile, would simplify and speed the process. The MDC and
civil society have pushed back strongly stating they want a
“people driven” constitution. Mwonzora addressed the
controversial Kariba draft constitution and said it could be
considered, as could any other draft, but should not be a
Qconsidered, as could any other draft, but should not be a
basis of the new constitution. Despite this, elements of
civil society, including Lovemore Madhuku and the influential
National Constitutional Alliance, have refused to accept the
constitutional process outlined in the GPA. They view the
central role of Parliament as inappropriate, even if an
effort is made to solicit public input.
HARARE 00000526 002 OF 002
——-
COMMENT
——-
¶8. (SBU) Parliament has been largely inactive and we are not
hopeful it will enact legislative reform measures in the near
term (Ref). The constitutional process is the one area where
Parliament has been engaged, and so far it is adhering to the
timetable set out in the GPA. A new constitution is a
predicate to new elections under the GPA. A valid
constitutional process, however, will require significant
resources (although quite likely not in the amount suggested
by Moyo).
¶9. (SBU) We expect the battle over the Kariba draft to heat
up. ZANU-PF and Mugabe support the Kariba draft because it
is a known quantity and provides for strong executive powers.
Additionally, insisting on the Kariba draft is a way for
Mugabe to derail or slow the constitutional process and to
therefore delay elections. He is in no hurry for elections
which, as things stand now, he and ZANU-PF would almost
certainly lose. END COMMENT.
MCGEE
(25 VIEWS)
