The Zimbabwean parliamentary committee in charge of revising the constitution says it will forge ahead with its task following the conclusion of the congress of the largest formation of the Movement for Democratic Change, ending this weekend in Bulawayo.
Committee sources said the work of the so-called thematic committees poring over public testimony on the constitution has been on hold for three weeks due to preparations for the gathering by the MDC formation headed by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The recent April 18 Independence Day holiday also got in the way of work.
Thematic committee members will meet next week after May Day celebrations to discuss public submissions made during the often-delayed and disrupted outreach process. The committee says it hopes to have a draft ready by the end of September, following which the new basic document must be voted on by parliament and the people.
Believe Gaule, deputy co-chairman of the select committee on the constitution tells reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that the recent injection of US$9 million into the process by the government should ensure smooth running when drafting process resumes.
Gaule is a senator for the MDC formation now led by Welshman Ncube, which broke away from the Tsvangirai MDC formation in 2005.