‘Negotiated’ constitution on the cards in Zimbabwe

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has indicated that a new constitution is likely to be a negotiated document between the coalition partners and not the people driven exercise that was promised. “It has to be ultimately a negotiated settlement. But the process was to ensure that all Zimbabweans give views but unfortunately the politicians took a partisan position and hence violence ensued,” said Tsvangirai.

It was this violence during the constitution making process that was addressed by Human Rights Watch in a press statement, arguing this violence and new arrests of civil society activists highlight the lack of progress in ending human rights abuses.

A package of diamonds believed to have been illegally exported from Zimbabwe’s controversial Chiadzwa fields, was recently seized in Dubai, in what seems to be a severe violation of the agreement reached with the Kimberley Process.

During a hearing in the European Parliament with South African President Jacob Zuma, South Africa was accused by conservative MEP Geoffrey van Orden of ‘acquiescing’ whilst people in Zimbabwe starved.