RUSTENBURG The majority of Zimbabweans living in South Africa are looking forward to a constitution that will limit the Presidential term as well as ensure that the state media, judiciary, police, army and other government organs do not become puppets of a single political party. Scores of people who spoke to The Zimbabwean said they would only consider returning home to vote when such a constitution had been put in place.
History has taught us that we have to limit the term of the President, said a 25-year old youth who refused to be named. We do not want to create another monster. It is no longer a question of making sure that Mugabe must go. Whoever replaces him should not be allowed to have unlimited terms because we can see the results of such a policy, he added.
Tawanda Chitongo, who comes from Masvingo, echoed the same sentiments and pointed out that reduced Presidential terms had become the norm worldwide.
Why can we not follow the examples of other countries? Here in South Africa they have had more presidents than us despite the fact that they achieved independence in 1994. The same can be said about the constitution of Mozambique.
We should go down the same road and limit the presidential terms. This is what is acceptable internationally, said Chitongo, who works as a security guard.
He added that the freedom of the people should be guaranteed by the new constitution.
When I came here in 2008, people were beaten up by soldiers back home in Zimbabwe. These soldiers are in fact supposed to protect the civilians. Why should this be allowed? The police and army should not be partisan because they are paid by the taxpayers, he added.
A primary school teacher in the Gelhout area of Rustenburg questioned the removal of former Judge President Rita Makarau from her position.
This shows us that there is no democracy, even in the era of this so-called inclusive government. She (Makarau) was removed from that position because she is one of the few judges still brave enough to be objective, even if it means crossing the path of Zanu (PF).
We need a liberal judiciary. This is the cornerstone of any democracy, said Makoni.
Gabriel Shumba who is the executive director of Zimbabwe Exiled Forum (ZEF) has already called upon the constitutional process in Zimbabwe to be all-inclusive by taking on board the views of locals who are living outside the country.
ZEF estimates that more than four million Zimbabweans are living in exile today.
Post published in: Politics