After so many disappointments and delays we should not be surprised when we get very little response to developments that take place in the long drawn out saga that is meant to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe. Also, because of the complexities and the secrecy that always surrounds such developments, the media does not always pick up its significance.
What happened this past week is that the negotiators resumed discussions on Wednesday in Harare and after two days settled on a draft of constitutional amendment number 19. It was then printed in the Government Gazette on Saturday and will now face 30 days of debate at national level before going to Parliament in mid January for possible acceptance and adoption by a two thirds majority.
Few of us expected such a smooth passage of this significant and substantive change to the constitution and it seems clear that it was achieved only because the South African government - at last - grasped the nettle and told Zanu PF to get on with the task and stop any procrastination. I have always argued that the only government in the world that Zanu cannot say no to is South Africa and I think this view was again confirmed by these events.
The amendments proposed are far reaching. They will restore citizenship to many thousands who were stripped of their citizenship for political reasons. They make it possible to hold dual citizenship. They create the post of Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers and make this new structure responsible for government. They stipulate that the President will remain Head of State and in charge of the security Ministries but it also creates a National Security Council to replace the JOC and gives the MDC a major role in the Council and the ability to block any unlawful activity.
The amendments also provide for the President to make senior appointments only after he has consulted and agreed on those appointments with the Prime Minister. Best of all the deal includes a specific time table to be followed in the drafting of a new constitution that in two years time, will replace the existing one and permit the first truly free and fair democratic elections in 30 years.
We still have a few things to get out of the way before the new legislation can be passed into law. MDC is demanding that these be dealt with before the new legislation comes before Parliament in January. These are the legal basis of the National Security Council to be agreed and drafted for consideration by Parliament in January at the same time as the constitutional amendments; the equitable allocation of Ministerial portfolios between the three Parties; the rescinding of the appointment of Governors and their replacement by new appointments representing the Party that holds a majority of Members of Parliament in each Province; and, the return to Zimbabwe of all Diplomats and their replacement by new appointments agreed in terms of the GPA.