We have just included all the content from the Model Constitution compiled by the Law Society of Zimbabwe into our indexed online constitution resource.

Visitors to our site are now able to browse through this lengthy document, section by section, easily comparing its clauses on key constitutional issues with the clauses provided by other key documents also included in our resource. The resource provides browsing and comparisons accross the following texts:

• Law Society of Zimbabwe – Model Constitution (October 2010)
• Constitution of Zimbabwe (at 13th February 2009)
• Amendment 19 – Act No. 1 of 2009
• Kariba Draft Constitution – 2007
• National Constitional Assembly Draft Constitution – 2001

We encourage you to visit http://www.sokwanele.com/zimbabweconstitution to learn more.

Foreword to the Law Society’s Model Constitution by the President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe

More than a year ago, in February 2009, the Council of the Law Society of Zimbabwe decided to participate in the constitution-making process which began with the signing of the Global Political Agreement and is continuing today. (more…)

Twenty-six months on, the Zimbabwean Global Political Agreement (GPA) seems no closer to full implementation as parties continue to conflict over several outstanding issues. With the constitutional outreach process having been completed, already rising levels of violence are sure to increase in the run up to the likely 2011 elections. Fears abound that the terror of the 2008 elections will be repeated as Zanu PF gears itself up for a win at any cost.

This can be clearly seen through analysis of articles and media. During November, one hundred and six articles from the internet media were recorded and catalogued, an increase of about 10% from October. Each article is a unique record of a breach of the terms of the GPA. By categorising these articles according to the nature of breach, we have generated the following statistics. This list of violations is neither comprehensive or exhaustive but rather illustrative of the broad political situation. (more…)

What a humorous morning – three trips to a civil office, forming in this space of time a life long friendship with the man at front desk, and being told that the policy of the civil service is “to work slowly and play hard”.

There is something so brutally honest and unrepentant in this attitude, a black and white contrast to the high-heeled, suited, hard-nosed, thick-skinned and compulsive ways of other worlds. Yet understandably frustrating if you are the one at the mercy of this “work slowly, play hard” policy.

Does it come from our affinity with the natural world here in Africa? Because wherever we look, we encounter glimpses of another reality, not bound by time, or at least the manic time we know. Whether it’s the Abdim’s storks leisurely arriving from Eurasian landscapes, somehow anticipating the rain (unlike our blundering meteorologists). Or the remnants of road-killed domestic animals, owls, chameleons and the like who misjudged the timing of our vehicles. Or the season of pregnancy that defies all clocks …

One day I would hope the law to be so progressive as to create an obligation to spend a quota of time in the outdoors (of course the implications for freedom would be huge, but how competent are we to judge what is best for us?!). Yes, while analogies to the non-chronological civil service are ill-fitting, there may be a sliver of truth in praising the merits of less frenetic business.

Have we lost touch with our inner, natural clocks, such that we now fly like aimless migrants over the sea, aliens in our own skin?