HARARE - Waiting For a New Constitution, a play addressing the ongoing Constitution-making process, is running from February 24 until March 20 at the Theatre in The Park. The playwright, Steven Chifunyise, is a master of language and dramatic construction. The play tells the story of Zimbabwe’s crucial Constitution-making process, and features veteran actors and minnows, including Power FM DJ and former Studio 263 actress, Tendai Chakanyuka, NAMA 2003 Best Theatre winner, Silvanos Mudzvova, veteran community theatre director, Sebastian Maramba, young musician-cum-actor, John Pfumojena, actress-cum-musician, Edith Katiji, and vibrant stage and screen actress, Winnie Moyo.
The play was directed by Dave Guzha, with Tafadzwa Muzondo as assistant director. Waiting For a New Constitution is a candid story of Zimbabwe’s struggle to write a new Constitution and the people’s struggle for self determination through a new governance charter. Zimbabwe’s Constitution-making story is handled with poignancy and undeniable humour in the play.
Chifunyise is not a stranger to addressing pertinent controversial issues through the lens of theatre. His plays often draw on his experiences. He shares the richness and complexity of Zimbabwe’s convoluted Constitution-making process experience with his characteristic brilliance and grace.
Why is a new constitution necessary? asks Chifunyise in this new production. What is wrong with the current one? Why was the 2000 constitution rejected? How achievable is a people-driven constitution? Who are the people? What are the dynamics of constitution making? What fundamentals and ideals make a democratic constitution? Who are the custodians, enforcers and watchdogs of a democratic constitution? What guarantee is there that the new constitution will not be amended considering that 19 amendments have been done to the current one? How important is freedom of expression and access to information in a democratic constitution and in guaranteeing that diverse opinions and ideas are catered for in checking and balancing our constitution?
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