The Zimbabwean government has dismissed the opposition MDC-T's complaints over the submission of a draft constitutional bill to former South African President Thabo Mbeki, saying that the state has the executive prerogative to initiate such a legislative process.
Secretary for Information and Publicity George Charamba said there was nothing amiss in the Government making the draft and presenting it to the former South African leader, who is the facilitator of the inter-party talks, local newspaper The Chronicle reported on Friday.
He also said it should be made clear to the nation that the amendment was not solely about creating an all-inclusive government pursuant to the signing of an agreement between Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC as it would also cater for other "outstanding constitutional issues".
Constitutional amendments are initiated by the government through the responsible ministry. The production of the draft of Amendment No 19 Bill is, in fact, the duty of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and they are fulfilling this mandate, the official was quoted as saying.
"No one will hamstring Government from discharging its constitutional role," he said.
This came in the wake of reports that MDC-T has crafted its own draft and was trying to dismiss the one submitted by the government to Mbeki earlier this week.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2008)
