20100104
ALLAFRICA

Harare — It's all systems go as the Parliament Select Committee on constitution-making starts the process today by training Members of Parliament who chair thematic committees.

The training of deputy chairpersons of the thematic committees and members of the consultation team will follow tomorrow.

The Parliamentary Select Committee agreed that thematic committees would come up with a common position as a reference point during the consultation process that is to start on January 12.

In separate interviews last Friday, two of the Co-chairpersons of the committee, Cde Paul Mangwana (Zanu-PF) and Mr Edward Mkhosi (MDC-M), said the thematic committees would not be taking any documents to the people except reference points.

"The thematic committee training next week will resolve what should be encompassed in the consultations. Our party hasn't changed its position on the (Kariba) draft document, but we are waiting for the training next week where the committees are expected to come up with a common position.

"After the thematic committees' recommendations, we will then consult our respective parties on the way forward concerning what would have been agreed by the committees during training," he said.

Cde Mangwana who is also Zanu-PF's MP for Chivi Central constituency said the parties would be consulted before the consultation process roll-out which is expected to begin a week after training.

"The training process is in two phases. One is to elicit information to the people and the other one concerns coming up with a position as reference point, but this will work after we have consulted parties," he said.

Mr Mkhosi said thematic committees would start training after having familiarised themselves with all the drafts at hand.

He said the people would have the opportunity to write their own constitution without interference.

"When they go for training, the thematic committees would have acquainted themselves with all the drafts including the Kariba draft, National Constitutional Assembly and all other drafts so that when they discuss, they will be informed," Mr Mkhosi said.

Mr Mkhosi who is MDC-M House of Assembly Member for Mangwe constituency, said consultation teams would not be taking any document to the people.

"What the teams will only carry are the talking points they would have extracted from all the drafts.

"They cannot just go empty-handed because it will become vague, but they will be guiding people according to their area of interest," he said.

Mr Mkhosi expressed confidence that the process would start earnestly in early January since 'partners' had come on board.

"We expect the programme to roll out smoothly because now we have everything in order, our partners have come handy with contributions like transport and accommodation for thematic committee members.

"We have also managed to bring in people who have past experience in the constitution-making process and that will be an added advantage for us," he said.

The thematic committee recently announced 540 members who will be going to the provinces to gather people's views on specific subjects and then report back to the full select committee. The whole constitution-making process is expected to last 65 days and will be followed by a referendum.