ZIMBABWE: President Robert Mugabe rejects calls by Zimbabwean churches for a new constitution to help end long-running political and economic crisis

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday (October 27) rejected calls by Zimbabwean churches for a new constitution to help end a long-running political and economic crisis, but said he supported their initiative for a national political dialogue. Critics say Mugabe, 82, who is Zimbabwe's sole ruler since independence from Britain in 1980, has manipulated the national constitution to tighten his grip on power in the face of a severe crisis many blame on his policies. Speaking at the launch of a document called "The Zimbabwe We Want" by an alliance of the country's major churches, Mugabe said although he welcomed their initiative for dialogue, his government had marked out some "non-negotiable" interests. The group, including the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference, say they will lead a countrywide dialogue in the coming months on critical issues such as land, electoral and constititutional reforms, human rights, national reconciliation and micro-economic policies. In a bold challenge to Mugabe's policies, the alliance is proposing the establishment of an independent Land Commission to ensure fair distribution of land, and for a review of tough media and security laws that critics say are being used to stifle the opposition. The veteran Zimbabwean did not directly respond to all the issues raised by the churches, but the combative tone of his speech suggested he would not be abandoning his position. Mugabe said he was not convinced the country needed a new constitution, and said those who believed that Zimbabwe's independence constitution was imposed by Britain were wrong. "The totality of this commitment at home, here in Zimbabwe, is what brought the constitution people called the Lancaster House constitution, if that is not home grown, I wonder what can ever be home grown. There could never be another constitution so dear, so sacrosanct, so revolutionary as that for which so many of our people gave their lives. True, there may be amendments necessary to make, let us say so, but when we talk of home-grown constitution, it is as if this was imposed on us by the British, " he said. In the past Mugabe has treated demands for radical political reforms as part of a drive by his opponents to oust him from power over his seizures and redistribution of white-owned commercial farms to black Zimbabweans. In a 75-minute address, Mugabe said his government, which has fallen out with many key Western donors over his policies, would ensure that "non-negotiable interests" around Zimbabwe's political rights and independence would be protected. Mugabe has proposed to follow up his controversial land reforms with a bill forcing foreign mining firms in the country's gold, platinum, nickel and other minerals to surrender at least 51 percent shares to local investors.

ITN Source | October 28, 2006

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