HARARE - President Jacob Zuma’s facilitation team jets in today for a crucial meeting with Zimbabwe negotiators drawn from Zanu PF and the two MDC formations over the deadlocked constitution-reform process.

On Saturday, President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF insisted the amendments it has proposed must be incorporated into the draft constitution.

Mainstream MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora, vowed they were going to take Zanu PF head-on today.

“We are going to insist on the practical implementation of Sadc resolution in Maputo, in particular the strengthening of Jomic,” he said. “Up to now, the three members seconded to Jomic by Sadc have not come in because of Zanu PF intransigence.”

Turning to the constitution-making process, he said: “We are going to tell Sadc Zanu PF should follow the GPA which states that the draft should be taken to a Second All-stakeholders meeting and then a referendum."

“We are going to tell Sadc Zanu PF has not made any amendments but has brought a new document which is unacceptable,” said Mwonzora.

Director of policy in Ncube’s MDC, Qhubani Moyo said: “As the MDC we will tell the Sadc facilitation team they should make sure Zanu PF is sincere. We are tired of Zanu PF’s cheap politics. It is time Zanu PF come clean, they cannot be allowed to decide for people. If the constitution is as bad as Zanu PF claims, then they should take it to the people and let them decide.”

Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and the party secretary for administration Diydums Mutasa referred questions to the party chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa, whose mobile was not being picked up.

But Zanu PF has previously insisted its amendments will have to be taken into account, otherwise there will be no progress.  — Fungi Kwaramba