According to a list of proposed constitutional issues contained in a report dated November 14-22, Copac grappled with proposals on whether the country should have a President with two deputies as per the Unity Accord of 1987 which was signed between Zanu PF and PF Zapu.
“The discussion proceeded with others feeling that one of the vice-presidents should come from Matabeleland. Others proposed that there be a President and Prime Minister,” reads the report.
Copac explored examples of power arrangements in other countries. “The French example was mentioned in the discussion as having both the president and prime minister with executive powers. It was indicated that it does not work because there cannot be two centres of power unless they all come from the same political party,” said the report.
“On that point, the issues were parked for further discussions by the select committee.” Civic bodies and parties in Matabeleland have complained about the marginalisation of the region, both in terms of development and national politics.
At one point, the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube vowed to break with what has become a tradition of “perpetual Ndebele deputies” in the presidium by sponsoring a presidential candidate who was Ndebele by origin.
