Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made yesterday briefed the Zanu-PF Politburo on the crop situation, predicting low yields due to erratic rains. He said the situation on the ground pointed to a worse season compared to last year.

The Politburo also got an update on the constitution-making process from Copac co-chairperson Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana. It expressed dismay at attempts by the MDC formations to delay the process to avoid elections this year.

Speaking after the meeting, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said: "We received a report by Cde Made on the crop situation. He told us that because of erratic rainfall the crop is not going to be as good as it was last year. The hectarage planted is lower than that of last year and the yield is also likely to be lower." Cde Gumbo, however, said Cde Made encouraged farmers to continue planting until early February.

"We are however, waiting for the actual cropping report to decide on what contingency measures to take," he said.

Cde Gumbo said Zanu-PF was fed up with the continuous delays by the MDC formations in the constitution-making process.

"Cde Mangwana stressed that there were challenges of the MDC formations' reluctance to have the narrative report (of the outreach) published because it gives an accurate report on what transpired as this would expose them. If the MDC formations continue to behave that way, we as Zanu-PF will be forced to issue out the report by Monday next week whether they want it or not."

Cde Gumbo said elections will be held this year with or without a new constitution."We want the constitution to be concluded so that we go for a referendum and then elections. We will go for elections whether the MDC formations like it or not. We will go for elections this year whether the constitution is completed or not."

Cde Gumbo said the Zanu-PF leadership was happy that Sadc leaders were beginning to see that the problem was not Zanu-PF but its partners in Government.He said the Politburo heard that constitution drafters had sent to the Copac management committee chapters that have been completed for review. The Politburo however urged the drafters to stick to what people said during the outreach program