Zimbabwe sends constitutional change document to Mbeki

HARARE - Zimbabwe has sent a draft copy of a constitutional amendment giving president Robert Mugabe the power to form a government unilaterally to mediator Thabo Mbeki for review, the state-run Herald newspaper said yesterday.

But the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said it had not been consulted and the draft was solely a ruling party document.

The MDC has refused to enter the government, accusing Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF of trying to take the most powerful ministries and freeze out the MDC - violating a September 15th power-sharing deal - leading to a two-month deadlock in talks over the formation of a cabinet.

Zimbabwe's power-sharing agreement, signed after intense mediation by former South African president Mbeki, may unravel if Mr Mugabe pushes ahead with the plan to name a cabinet without opposition agreement, jeopardising what is seen as the country's best chance of reversing a deep economic slide.

"Draft Constitutional Amendment Number 19 Bill has been completed and sent to the mediator in South Africa after scrutiny by the parties concerned," the Herald quoted information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu as saying on Tuesday.

In allegations that could further fuel political tensions, the MDC said yesterday that Zimbabwean police have failed to account for 12 of its members abducted 21 days ago. "These unlawful arrests, detentions and abductions of MDC activists should cease as a matter of urgency," the MDC said in a statement.

"The regime has begun a systematic crackdown on the party members in the country as it tries in vain to solidify trumped-up charges of banditry and terrorism against MDC supporters."

The MDC said the draft Bill would need to be merged with an amendment drawn up by the opposition.

"It is a Zanu-PF draft, we have our own draft," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said. "We are not going to have Zanu-PF ideas imposed on the people of Zimbabwe." The MDC said later in a statement that it will give its own draft to Mr Mbeki and called for an immediate convening of parliament to oversee the executive.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Tuesday the amendment had no chance of being passed in parliament, now controlled by the opposition. Mr Tsvangirai won a joint presidential election but without the required majority to avoid a run-off.

© 2008 Reuters