Constitution Outreach: News Round-Up, 19 August – 31 August 2010
September 1st, 2010
Reminder: Please complete Sokwanele’s constitution survey online at www.sokwanele.com/zimbabweconstitution/survey. Alternatively, please send a blank email to survey@sokwanele.com to receive an auto-respond reply with information on how you can participate in Sokwanele’s constitution survey. The following are media extracts relating to the constitution outreach process, appearing between 19 August – 31 August. To review previous news items, or follow updates daily, please visit the Constitution Resource page on the Sokwanele website. Please note that links to sources and full articles are also available on the resource page. These extracts are being emailed to our subscribers today – click here to sign up for our newsletter.
19 August 2010 – cont
Making a constitution no one wants
Opinion by Joram Nyathi – JOMIC communications manager and former deputy editor of the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, (writing in his personal capacity): During JOMIC’s historic interparty workshops, I indicated that Zimbabwe was still too polarised to craft an enduring constitution. We needed national healing first. Traditional leaders know this reality. I understand Party activists too are aware of this but are unemployed, and many crave some bit of action. Civic society wants the dollars. Politicians are playing along and ordinary Zimbabweans are caught between the hammer and the anvil: mention of an election evokes images of 2008, yet political stability has not yielded the much talked-about Mighty Dollar. And they don’t know what a constitution is beyond the propaganda from their parties. Thus the Presidency is not an office but Robert Mugabe, and Prime Minister means Morgan Tsvangirai. [...] Worse still, some COPAC team leaders could not explain what a “preamble” was. Translation into vernacular drew blank faces. At one meeting in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South, from a crowd of about 120, only two men seemed to have a clue of what was going on. At the close of the meeting, an elderly man stood up and wagged his index finger at the COPAC team sitting up front: “When this thing turns sour, don’t tell us we gave it to you,” he warned grimly. At a meeting in Insiza District, also Matabeleland South, the COPAC leaders couldn’t explain what a devolved state was. Proportional representation, said a COPAC team leader, meant that people voted only for a party and the president selected MPs for them. A federal system of government was equated to the defunct Federation of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland! It is a scandal that a nation can allow itself to be led on wild goose chase for a “people-driven” constitution. Which can lead to only one outcome: a constitution no-one wants, whether it passes or fails the referendum. Not Zimbabweans; not Tsvangirai, not Mugabe. It’s Morton’s fork. We adopt it or revert to the devil we know from Lancaster. Which is back to 2000 when the “no” victory left everybody else a loser except President Mugabe [Via New Zimbabwe Blogs].
MDC Copac teams resolve to cancel meetings in violent areas
Violence related to the constitutional outreach exercise has become so severe in Manicaland that MDC officials on the teams have resolved not to hold meetings in the affected areas. MDC Senator Patrick Chitaka, who is part of the constitutional outreach team in Manicaland, said several MDC members have been hospitalized after attacks when they spoke out in outreach meetings. Reports have been made to the police and details provided of some of the perpetrators, but as usual there have been no investigations or arrests [Via SW Radio Africa].
Another MDC MP arrested as Masvingo police hunt more
Meanwhile the MDC is facing more harassment in connection with the constitutional outreach in Masvingo. The police at Masvingo central arrested Jani Varandeni, the MDC MP for Bikita South, on Thursday morning after he reported there to ask what progress had been made in the case involving violent attacks by war vet Jabulani Sibanda, who had terrorized the area. Varandeni signed a warned and cautioned statement and was released on bail till his court appearance on Monday. Describing the incident, MDC-T organizing secretary for Masvingo, Tongai Matutu, said it was a case of the “police turning a victim into the accused”. Matutu, who is also the Deputy Minister for Youth, Gender and Development, said: “The police are now hunting down MDC activists, members, supporters and officials left, right and center.” [...] Police are reported to be hunting down five more MDC officials who they claim were involved in the same incident. Their list includes Matutu, Bikita East MP Edmore Marima, Bikita West MP Heya Shoko, Zaka North MP Ernest Mudavanhu and Zaka Senator Mishek Marava. Matutu said the police cannot possibly be looking for him as he is a minister who goes to work every day and they know where to find him. He told SW Radio Africa that all five MDC officials on the wanted list would report to Masvingo central police on Monday. The MDC official repeated his belief that the arrests are an attempt by ZANU PF to block them from mobilizing and educating their supporters ahead of the constitutional outreach meetings in the area. Matutu explained that MDC activists were being targeted in order to silence them. He advised Zimbabweans not to let ZANU PF hijack their constitution. [Via SW Radio Africa]
More Logistical Problems in Zimbabwe Constitutional Revision Outreach Process
Logistical problems continued on Thursday to dog the public outreach phase of Zimbabwe’s constitutional revision process as organizers canceled meetings in Chipinge East, Manicaland, due to fuel shortages. Sources said drivers for the public outreach teams were informed early in the day at the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department that they could not get their cars as there was no Outreach Team leader for Manicaland Monica Mutsvangwa could not be reached for comment. But sources said the state motor pool said that fuel supplies had run out. [...] But Patrick Chitaka, Manicaland chairman of the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, charged in an interview with VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere that cancellation of the meetings may have been brought about deliberately as Chipinge East is an MDC stronghold [Via VOA News].
Shamu launches media black out on Mangwana
Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu who is also ZANU-PF national political commissar has launched a media black out on ZANU-PF COPAC chair Paul Mangwana as factionalism deepens within the Robert Mugabe’s grouping which calls itself ‘the revolutionary party’. Highly placed sources at the state controlled Herald newspaper said the ban on Mangwana comes after he (Mangwana) recently engaged the editorial team complaining about negative publicity of COPAC activities by the state controlled media. Mangwana was some few years back chased out of Mashonaland west province where he had relocated from his Masvingo rural home. The eviction was orchestrated by the ZANU-PF Mashonaland west top officials including Webster Shamu because Mangwana was gaining political support in the area. “We were told not to quote him in COPAC stories despite him being one of the chairpersons. We would rather use MDC-T COPAC co-chair Douglas Mwonzora’s quotes because we were told Mangwana was becoming bigger than his shoes,” said the sources. The sources added that Mangwana wanted to get more popular than anyone else in the party because of ‘his COPAC’ business [Via ZimEye].
20 August 2010
Villagers foil anti-outreach militants
VIGILANT villagers this week stopped a group of axe-wielding militants from disrupting a constitution-making outreach preparatory meeting in Nyanga North constituency, according to constitutional reforms boss Douglas Mwonzora. Mwonzora, a joint chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, also known as Copac, told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that the incident was one of cases of violence affecting the constitution-making process. He said seven people, armed with axes, stormed Nyadowa Business Centre, the venue of the meeting, with the intention of attacking officials and participants on Sunday. “There was violence in Nyanga where seven people armed with axes tried to stop a meeting I was addressing at Nyadowa Business Centre. The meeting had about 500 people and it was a preparation to public meetings that were starting this week,” said Mwonzora, who is MP for the constituency. Because of the big crowd at the meeting, he said, the men were apprehended and were handed over to Nyamaropa Police Station [Via The Zimbabwe Independent]
Calls for restorative justice must be heeded now
As the country approaches another election within the next two years, the violence that has come to characterise political campaigns is already being reported, this time inspired by the constitution outreach programme, and this without any efforts having made to “make peace” with aggrieved victims of past political violence. It is within that scope that this country has placed itself on the path of cyclical violence with perpetrators rightly knowing that nothing will happen to them. After all it is quite straight forward: if you go unpunished for a perceived crime, what will stop you from repeating it? Talk about literally getting away with murder, Zimbabwe presents scholars with innumerable case examples! And we have seen it since 1980 anyway with the Gukurahundi massacres as known architects and the foot soldiers f the troubles have never been taken to task about their role. Issues around forgiveness and healing are likely to elude us as long as there is no political commitment on the part the leaders who presided over the killing and torture of innocents, and we are guaranteed that angry emotions will be part of our individual and collective psyche for a long time to come [Via Kubatana].
Farm workers face outreach backlash
For Madziwa Muchemwa* (24) the coming of the constitutional committee’s outreach team to hold meetings here in Shamva was like a dream come true. [...] A victim of political violence two years ago Muchemwa also made sure to tell the team from the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) that the new constitution must have clauses outlawing the use of violence to acquire or retain political power. Had he known he would not have uttered even a single word during the meeting, especially the first point about land allocation. For unbeknown to Muchemwa and his colleagues who spoke during the outreach meetings, war veterans and Zanu (PF) militia who also attended the meeting would follow up later on all who had made contributions that were not in line with President Robert Mugabe’s party’s views on the new constitution. [...] “On the night after the outreach meeting, five men claiming to be war veterans knocked on my door and asked me to come out so that they could ‘deal with me’ for standing up to present ‘the MDC line’ at the meeting,” said Muchemwa. According Muchemwa, his crime was to call for a peaceful and equitable land redistribution programme which the mob said was a call to reverse Mugabe’s chaotic and bloody farm redistribution programme of the last decade. From his experiences in 2008, Muchemwa knew it would be folly to come out as demanded by the mob. “I refused to come out, they threatened to burn my house but I dared them to do it. I told them I was calling the police on my mobile phone and that is when they went away, promising to come back to deal with me,” Muchemwa told The Zimbabwean on Sunday last week. Muchemwa did not wait for the mob to return, feeling to Harare early in the next morning to seek refuge with his brother who stays there and in the process joining, according to the farm workers’ union leaders, a growing number of farm labourers displaced by political violence that has accompanied the outreach exercise [Via The Zimbabwean].
Murehwa women decline 50% voice in new constitution
Women at a constitutional outreach meeting in Murehwa, this week stunned a Copac outreach team when they opposed constitutional guarantees for a quota system for women’s participation in politics and other decision-making public and private bodies. Asked if they wanted 50% representation for women, the rural women unanimously declined. “Aiwa hatidi (No, we do not want it),” the women at the meeting shouted in unison. [...] Although the women in Murehwa eloquently discussed some of the rights pertaining to them and girls in the constitution, including advocacy for stiffer penalties for rapists, their refusal to have a 50% representation might turn out to be a big blow for women fighting for more say. Commenting on the issue, a veteran female journalist who declined to be named, Thursday said traditionally patriarchal attitudes and practices could have influenced the decisions by the rural women in Murehwa. “The reason why these women might have failed to promote the issue of 50% representation of gender could be cultural. Women in the rural areas might still feel that they should be under men and might not understand issues to do with the emancipation of women,” she said. “Women’s organisations should have done outreach programmes and workshops in rural centres and not only targeted urban women.” [Via NewsDay]
ZBC refuses to flight Copac ads
Guests at the launch of a Copac website on Tuesday lashed out at the country’s sole broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), accusing the station of sabotaging the constitution-making process. Copac has failed to flight its advertisements on television after ZBC allegedly charged exorbitant fees. Participants at the launch said it was demoralising that ZBC was sabotaging a national programme. “ZBC is supposed to be a national broadcaster but Copac is not airing its jingles to promote the process which is supposed to be a national process. “Surprisingly, they continue to air divisive Zanu PF jingles,” said a participant at the launch. Jessie Majome, information and publicity chairperson for Copac, said it was worrying that ZBC was not cooperating. “This issue is an issue of concern as our commitment is to bombard the airwaves and newspapers with information on the constitution-making process. ZBC is, however, not forthcoming. [Via NewsDay]
MDC cautioned on Zanu PF tactics
Zimbabwe’s opposition has been warned to wary of contributions by President Mugabe’s Zanu PF in the ongoing constitutional revision exercise. If taken serious, then Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T should trade carefully and possibly not rush into elections. Despite having full knowledge of the atrocities they have committed so far in their 30 year plunder of the nation, Zanu PF are strongly advocating for the return of the death sentence. Obviously the sentence is not meant to work against their own but MDC-T or Arthur Mutambara’s MDC officials during the run up to the next coming elections. The three parties are in agreement that elections should be conducted soon after the new constitution is ushered in. If the Zanu PF’s view is incorporated in the new supreme law then the nation should expect a fresh legitimised wave of violence and intimidation through the police and the courts before elections. This will effectively silence and eliminate the opposition once and for all [...] An analyst has urged the government to start making investigations and arrests and dismantle the lethal state machinery, before the new constitution is gazetted. “If Zanu PF is sincere by advocating for the return of the death sentence in the new constitution, they should start by accounting for their previous actions. Amnesty has to be accompanied by accountability,” he said. [Via AfricaNews]
22 August 2010
Veritas: Devolution Part II
Veritas continue their discussion of devolution: “In this Part we shall deal with some of the issues which must be settled before devolution of power can take place. It is not enough for the constitutional outreach exercise to conclude [if it does] that most people want devolution: the constitution-makers will have to tackle these issues if devolution of power is to become a reality in Zimbabwe.” [Via Veritas mailing list]
23 August 2010
Party clashes stall Copac outreach programme
The Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee was this week forced to put on hold its outreach exercise in parts of Chipinge and Chimanimani districts following clashes pitting MDC-T and Zanu-PF supporters. Provincial police spokesman Inspector Brian Makome-ke said they were still to get details of what was taking place. The clashes took place in Checheche, Jopa, Clearwater and other areas. Copac Manicaland co-chairs, Senators Monica Mutsva-ngwa (Zanu-PF) and Meik Makuyana (MDC-T) confirmed and castigated the clashes. Cde Mutsvangwa said the clashes in Chipinge, though sporadic, pointed to the need for national healing, reconciliation and integration. “We cannot say it was violence as such, but there are some sporadic quarrels between Zanu-PF and MDC supporters and these have since been reported to police. “The fights have to do with some past vendettas. These people have chosen the wrong platform to settle their scores. “This is Copac business; not an election. They must separate between the two. “It shows that we still have parts of our society that have not embraced the spirit of national healing and reconciliation. We will not tolerate a situation where rowdy elements will disrupt this rare opportunity for Zimbabweans to input in the new constitution. We want everyone to participate freely,” she said [Via The Herald - state-controlled media]
24 August 2010
No ZANU PF card no COPAC participation
Scores of people who had turned up for a Copac outreach meeting at Sebakwe primary school in Kwekwe rural, Midlands North province were on Monday chased away as they did not have Zanu PF cards. Zanu PF supporters led by the former Mbizo councillor, Simba Nyamadzawo, descended at the venue before the meeting and started screening people present. Those who did not have Zanu PF cards were turned away and threatened with death if they refused. During the meeting, Nyamadzawo would disrupt proceedings and threaten to takeover land from those who spoke against the Zanu PF position [Via The Zimbabwe Telegraph].
Zimbabwe Minister Matinenga Sees Draft Revised Constitution by Late 2010
Zimbabwe Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said Tuesday that a draft constitution could be ready by the end of this year or early next, depending on when public outreach is concluded. Though the anticipated constitutional referendum is still months away, questions are already being raised as to how that process will be structured and unfold. Matinenga told VOA reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that the referendum will present voters with a “Yes” or “No” choice, not a range of propositions on which voters might express preferences. Matinenga said the latter process which some have urged would be time-consuming and hard to manage [Via VOA News].
Kariba Draft processes will never give birth to sustainable democratic outcomes
[...] The content and structure of Kariba Draft may also open the door for political manipulation of government structures. For example the removal of a member of Parliament automatic after he or she is absent from 21 consecutive sittings. This change appears inexplicable, but given Zimbabwe’s history of violence and intimidation, it is possible to imagine that the change was crafted to allow the expulsion of opposition politicians after they have been arrested or forced into hiding. Many seemingly minor changes reflected in the Kariba Draft raise similar questions about the intent of the drafters. Kariba makes it very difficult for Parliament to pass a vote of no confidence. In fact, the Draft removes the subsection in the Constitutional Commission Proposal that specifies that if a President fails to comply with the requirements of a vote of no confidence he must resign, allowing a President to simply ignore such an action. It permits the President to dissolve Parliament at any time, allowing him to override proposed legislation that he opposes and perhaps escape impeachment. He may also unilaterally extend a term of Parliament during times of war. Under the current Constitution, the President enjoys expansive , unchecked powers that is being used for political advantage. These powers are not diminished under the Kariba Draft. Without the constitution hurdle being passed there will be no elections we are told. So in theory we must all support the parliamentary process chicanery and the Kariba Draft it seeks to legitimise. This builds on the same defeatist theory that saw the people’s party being pushed into an unfair and anti-democratic deal with Zanu PF. Then people\’s hunger and suffering was used to capitulate and compromise democratic principles instead of being seen as the objective factors upon which the struggle for democracy would be fought and achieved. Our own constitution has been reduced to an election document [Via The Zimbabwe Telegraph].
MDC-T legislator blasts police for treating them like criminals
MDC-T Senator for Zaka Misheck Marava, on Tuesday lashed out at the police attitude towards his party’s legislators, saying they are being treated like ‘criminals’ by the partisan police. Marava is one of five legislators from the MDC-T who were summoned to the police station in Masvingo on Monday, facing charges of disrupting a ZANU PF meeting in Bikita recently. [...] But police had to abandon taking statements from the legislators two hours into the process, after they realized their unlawful detention had paralyzed the constitution making process in the province. Marava said the public was being let down by a justice system which treats perpetrators of violence as if they were victims. [...] ‘The same police force treats us (legislators) with contempt, disrespect and scorn, while showing favoritism and granting special privileges to ZANU PF MPs and its supporters. ‘Look, I am a 54 year-old honorable and law abiding member of the society. How can I at this age, go and disrupt a ZANU PF meeting. Why, and for what benefit?’ He asked. ‘If it was the other way round, say ZANU PF MPs purportedly disrupting an MDC meeting, the police would have done nothing at all, not even take statements from them like what they did to us.’ Marava added that ZANU PF officials and their supporters have a free pass to do as they please and are never held accountable for any crimes against the people of Zimbabwe. ‘They are simply untouchable, despite public pronouncements by the police that no one is above the law. Many perpetrators of violence walk freely in Masvingo, while so many of their victims no longer can,’ he said [Via SW Radio Africa].
25 August 2010
My voice, my right
Zimbabwe is caught up in the transition of writing a new constitution that “will” or should cater for all, particularly now in this inclusive government we are in. I am disturbed with the lack of effort from stakeholders particularly the government. They are not seriously including persons with disabilities at decisions levels. It is very sad that the visual and hearing impaired ( blind and deaf ) persons are sidelined due to communication barriers, they use a different communication medium due to the nature ot their disability, the braille and sign language which is not used in public meetings. I am aware that there is a lot of talk and suggestions that they must include all persons but let the truth be told, there is very little action taken on that statement. Let us consider persons with disability with respect, dignity and allow their own voices to heard so that they can also live and be accepted in our communities. They may not chant slogans and throw teargas at your buildings ( which they are capable of ) but they have a Right Too! [Letter published by Kubatana]
Const referendum in Feb – Mwonzora
A drafting committee to produce a draft of Zimbabwe’s new constitution will be announced in early September, and a national referendum to decide the finished draft is likely to be held in February next year, says the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) co-chairperson, Douglas Mwonzora. The select committee is a 25-member body appointed by the governing body of Parliament to spearhead the formulation of a new constitution under the Global Political Agreement signed between the three main political parties – Zanu (PF), MDC-T and MDC-M. In an interview this week with The Zimbabwean, Mwonzora said: “We are still debating the number of people to sit in the drafting committee but they are likely to be between 10 and 12. I can confirm that the appointments will be made public soon,” he said. During the ongoing constitutional reform process, in which COPAC is still gathering the people’s views on the new constitution countrywide, there has been a widespread fear that some political parties were going to manipulate the information collected to suit their political party’s agenda. Mwonzora, however, dismissed the fears saying the drafting committee would be selected purely on the basis of merit and demonstrated knowledge of political science and constitutional law. He said the committee would draw upon the vast experience in the legal fraternity. “This is purely technical work and appointments will not be done based on political party affiliations,” he said. “In line with Article Six of the GPA, the select committee should produce a draft and that is why they will create the drafting committee to work directly under the select committee in providing the technical aspect of making a draft. We are even looking beyond borders because it is always important to check the best practices elsewhere” he said. [Via The Zimbabwean].
26 August 2010
Zimbabwe Constitution-Makers Seek Funding for 15 More Days of Outreach
The parliamentary select committee in charge of Zimbabwe’s constitutional revision process said Thursday that it needs to raise another US$5 million dollars to fund a 15-day extension to the public outreach program initially slated to last 65 days, amid international donor concerns about soaring costs. Select Committee Co-Chairman Douglas Mwonzora said the panel will meet with the project board in charge of funding issues Monday to discuss the extension of 15 working days or three weeks, and the respective roles of donors and the government of Zimbabwe in meeting additional costs. Mwonzora said the 15 additional days will cover the outreach exercise in Harare and Bulawayo, which was postponed in June due to concerns about suspected plans to pack meetings – and also because the World Cup of soccer unfolding next door in South Africa commanded public attention. Mwonzora told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that an additional US$5 million is needed but that the Harare government has already raised $1 million [Via VOA News].
Dual citizenship not all glossy
TWO weeks ago, this writer had a chance meeting with a monitor involved in the outreach programme of the constitution-making process. What transpired during our discussion was very interesting. The monitor claimed that the issue of dual citizenship was relevant to those living in provinces near South Africa. The people in those provinces wanted to be citizens of both South Africa and Zimbabwe, he claimed. Why? I asked. The reasoning was that they wanted jobs in South Africa and to be allowed free movement between South Africa and Zimbabwe. [...] There are many issues involved with dual citizenship. Many countries do not want to extend dual citizenship to their citizens for security reasons [...] What then is the usefulness of taking citizenship of another country except for personal reasons of people who want the best of both worlds? Whether you take dual citizenship or not, you are just a foreigner in your adopted country. It is a false sense of security, maybe, just to not apply for a work permit. But the good jobs will always go to the locals without dual citizenship, anywhere. A parliamentary committee had hearings sometime ago on the issue of citizenship. Some politicians were quite emotional about being allowed to have dual citizenship. For what reason, one may ask? For personal reasons, maybe, to do with their children who now reside in foreign countries. What if those foreign countries do not allow dual citizenship? [...] Another aspect which may be behind the advocates for dual citizenship is the land reform programme. With no title deeds but leases only, some beneficiaries feel that their children who opt for foreign citizenship will not inherit the land allocated to their parents unless they were Zimbabwean citizens. Well, that land belongs to the State anyway. The State will decide what to do at the time. The land belongs to Zimbabwean citizens. The State guarantees that only citizens have a right to land. The same goes for what is termed crown land in Britain. British citizens can rent to farm the land but not foreigners [Via The Herald - state-controlled media].
27 August 2010
Tradition gags women at Copac meetings
While women contribute the highest number of participants at constitutional outreach meetings currently underway countrywide, they are not standing up and contributing as a result of cultural impediments. Deputy Minister of Women Affairs Jessie Majome, who is also Copac spokesperson, said in an interview after attending an outreach meeting in Mutoko yesterday a lot still has to be done to ensure that women, who constitute 52% of the country’s population, add their voices to the constitution-making debate. “The constitution-making process offers women the greatest opportunity for women to shape their lives, women should take this chance to change laws that still enslave them. Unfortunately this is not the case, women are attending but they must also speak. Unfortunately tradition does not allow women to freely express themselves,” said Majome. According to latest statistics from Copac, women are contributing the highest number of participants with 41% attending meetings while men make up 38% and youths make up 19% and the disabled at least 0, 52%. “I am disappointed by the fact that women hardly spoke at the meeting I attended in Mutoko this week and it is so disheartening, women were hardly speaking,” said Majome. She said she attributed the failure by women to contribute to the supreme law debating process to a lack of education, adding that it was not too late for various groups to carry out education programmes to equip women with relevant contribution points as well as instill confidence. “Insufficient groundwork was done and much work has to be done if the aspirations of women are to be realised. “As a ministry we want women to go out and not only talk about women and children’s rights but also about other issues such as public finances,” said Majome [Via NewsDay].
Zimbabwe election body says poll unlikely in 2011
Zimbabwe’s electoral body does not expect elections planned for next year to take place because it still needs to carry out reforms and is not adequately funded to hold a credible vote, its chief told state media on Friday. Under the power-sharing arrangement between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, fresh elections were set for next year after a referendum on a new constitution. But the process to write a new charter is nearly a year behind schedule, government officials have said. “The timeframe is no longer what appears to be envisaged by the political parties because we have a very big task. The biggest challenge is financial resources to conduct elections,” Simpson Mutambanengwe, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman was quoted as saying by the Chronicle newspaper. “We are engaging various stakeholders … and the political parties over electoral reforms. As it is, the voters’ roll is in disarray,” Mutambanengwe said. Zimbabwe’s last election in 2008 ended in dispute after Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe but election officials withheld results for five weeks, only to call for a run-off vote which Tsvangirai boycotted blaming violence against his supporters. Mugabe and Tsvangirai have separately said elections will go ahead next year. Analysts believe the polls could be much later [Via Reuters].
29 August 2010
MDC-T threatens ‘No Vote’ campaign
MDC-T has threatened a “No Vote” campaign if the proposed constitution does not reflect the will of the people. The party also blamed Sadc for not being tough on Zanu PF in addressing outstanding issues in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement. Party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told hundreds of party supporters at a rally in Chitungwiza Sunday that MDC-T was not happy with the ongoing process, citing intimidation and violence against villagers in most parts of the country. Chamisa said the Constitution Select Committee (Copac)’s handling of information dissemination and the state media’s treatment of the constitution-making process were a cause for concern. “We are not happy with Copac’s information dissemination and the public media’s blackout of this important process,” Chamisa said. “Elections have to come after the necessary reform processes that include the drafting of a new constitution. We are expecting a constitution, but we are not happy with the way things are being handled. If the new constitution does not reflect the will of the people, we will reject it. We will only accept constitutions that reflect the will of the people.” [Via NewsDay]
‘Operation Shut Your Mouth’
The violence and intimidation being perpetrated by ZANU-PF to sabotage the constitutional outreach programme has turned into a fully-fledged official campaign dubbed, Operation “Vhara Muromo”, which means “Shut Your Mouth”. This is intended to make it clear that those with views opposed to official ZANU-PF policies are to remain quiet at the outreach meetings being conducted around the country. Many people are reported to have gone into hiding and others have been assaulted or displaced after making contributions deemed to be sympathetic of the MDC on constitutional issues. ZANU-PF is alleged to have assigned individuals who are supposed to raise their hands and contribute pre-written opinions that have been photocopied and distributed countrywide. Operation “Vhara Muromo” is reported to be intensifying in Mashonaland Central province, the Midlands and Manicaland [Via SW Radio Africa]
Open-air churches to attend Copac meetings
OPEN-AIR worshippers in Bulawayo say they will attend in their numbers Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac) meetings, in a bid to get rid of the law that illegalises their mode of worship after the city council warned that it will engage the services of riot police to disperse all churches worshipping in the open. The city by-law, section 27 (b) of 1975 that deals with the Protection of Lands and Natural Resources, outlaws open-air worship with the city council arguing that the churches were conducting services where there were no ablution facilities and potable water. The majority of Apostolic sect members are well known for being politically inactive but the current blitz on their mode of worship by the City Fathers, has suddenly forced them to urge their members, for the first time, to participate in political activities and collectively voice their concern about their mode of worship. “Tomorrow I will be telling all the members of my congregation to go to the Copac meeting when the exercise comes to Bulawayo. We should all stand up with one voice to stop this oppressive law. It should not be in the constitution,” said Madzibaba Fovela Nyoni from Messiah’s Era Ministries [Via The Sunday News - state controlled media].
30 August 2010
War vets intimidate villagers
Villagers from Mutasa rural district in Manicaland province last week said war veterans have ordered them to tell constitutional outreach teams that the proposed new governance charter should guarantee compensation for former liberation war fighters. Some of the villagers who spoke to The Zimbabwean on Sunday said the ex-combatants led by the controversial Joseph Chinotimba have also told them to demand that the new constitution should bar title deeds to black peasants resettled on former white farms to make it impossible for land reform beneficiaries from selling their properties back to their former owners. “The rebellious Chinotimba was here and we were told to tell the COPAC (Constitutional Parliamentary Committee) team that war veterans should receive compensation from the government and we were also told to say government should not issue out title deeds for the land because the former white commercial farmers will grab it through back door,” said a villager, Muchakuya Murapa [Via The Zimbabwean]
Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Revision Chiefs to Meet UNDP Seeking More Funding
The parliamentary committe leading Zimbabwe’s constitutional revision exercise met Monday to finalise a proposed supplementary budget to see through the consultation process ahead of a crucial meeting with main funders, the United Nations Development Program. Constitution select committe co-chairmen Edward Mkhosi said they will be meeting with officials from the UNDP on Tuesday to discuss a funding proposal of US$8 million. Government wants the money to cover the remaining phase of the consultations. “We had a brainstorming session with Constitution Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga today and we will be presenting our supplementary budget to UNDP tomorrow,” Mkhosi told VOA [Via VOA News].
Problems in Masvingo as outreach meetings abandoned
Several constitutional outreach meetings were abandoned in the urban areas of Masvingo on Saturday. Our correspondent, Simon Muchemwa, reports that only 1 out of 6 meetings were successfully completed after ZANU PF planted members of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) into the outreach teams. Those appointed by ZANU PF into the outreach teams, and have been working in the teams for the past two and half months, were replaced by the CIO’s without notice, Muchemwa reported. Although not using violence to disrupt the meetings the CIO have been generating silly squabbles amongst the all-party outreach teams to ensure no meeting is successfully completed. The only meeting to be completed lasted 5 hours and was dominated by more engineered ‘petty’ squabbles. [...] The disruptions come at a time the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) was supposed to meet its project board to raise an extra US$5 million funding to extend the outreach by 15 days. Muchemwa told us ZANU PF knows COPAC is broke and cannot afford to complete the abandoned meetings. This he said was why they are deliberately resorting to the tactic of making sure meetings are abandoned. [Via SW Radio Africa]
Zanu-PF on course to another stolen election
Zimbabwe’s state controlled media, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation is sabotaging the national constitution-making process after COPAC has failed to flight advertisements on television after ZBC allegedly charged exorbitant fees. ZBC continues to air divisive Zanu-pf jingles but is not airing COPAC jingles to promote the process which is supposed to be a national process. ZBC and the state media are not doing anything to raise public awareness on the constitution. COPAC’s commitment is to inform and enlighten Zimbabweans through airwaves and newspapers with information on the constitution-making process. This is a calculated move to keep the ordinary Zimbabwean in the dark and to give way to the ongoing Zanu-pf constitution related violence unleashed nationwide, many of whom have given in to Zanu-pf as they can no longer bear the brutality of being in opposition to Zanu-pf [Via SW Radio Africa]
31 August 2010
Donors dump Copac
The ongoing constitution-making process has been plunged into chaos with donors refusing to fund the additional 25 days of the outreach exercise after the expiry of the agreed 65-day period. Copac co-chairperson Munyaradzi Mangwana said donors told the constitution management committee to ask for money from Russia and China. “This country was not built by donors. We will find a way of financing the constitution. If the worst comes to the worst we will sell our diamonds,” said Mangwana. “The donors told us to ask China and Russia for money and we are doing just that.” He said the committee would send a circular to provincial teams to increase the number of meetings from one to two per day to cover more ground. Mangwana said the outreach exercise to Bulawayo and Harare would go on September 18 and 19. The committee met the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday seeking an $8 million supplementary budget. [Via NewsDay]
Zanu PF setting up militia bases ahead of Copac meetings
In Midlands North province Chief Malisa of Silobela, yesterday called for the abandonment of a Copac meeting claiming that the dates were incorrect with what he had been given by the district administrator for the area. Meanwhile, Zanu PF has set up militia bases in Nyanga South, Manicaland province to intimidate villagers during Copac outreach meetings in the area. The Zanu PF militia bases are in Ward 16, Ruchera, Ward 19, Country Club and Ward 15 Dende [Via MDC Today - 31 August 2010]
Zanu PF militia bar MDC Member from participating in a Copac meeting
he MDC Masvingo South, Ward 30 organising secretary, Coaster Moyo was barred from attending a Copac meeting at Chokwane – Ngundu primary school by Zanu PF youth militia in the area. In Midlands North province Chief Malisa of Silobela, yesterday called for the abandonment of a Copac meeting claiming that the dates were incorrect with what he had been given by the district administrator for the area. Meanwhile, Zanu PF has set up militia bases in Nyanga South, Manicaland province to intimidate villagers during Copac outreach meetings in the area. The Zanu PF militia bases are in Ward 16, Ruchera, Ward 19, Country Club and Ward 15 Dende [Via MDC Today - 31 August 2010]
