Midlands- Members of the public in Nkabane (Ward 4) have been complaining that the Copac outreach teams have not been coming to convene meetings at the appointed times.
People are generally unsure about the dates on which meetings are supposed to take place. They say that information usually comes at the last minute with only a days notice. The same sentiments are being echoed by Gweru urban residents who feel that meetings are not being advertised at all. Walking in the Central Business District, one does not even have an idea that a constitution making process is underway as there are no posters and there is no one going around with hailers advertising consultative meetings. Residents of Madwaleni (Lower Gweru) have also complained that outreach teams are not explaining technical terms for them to adequately understand such as the systems of government and that has made it difficult for them to add value to the process. On being told that they do not understand, members of the outreach teams say they are not allowed to explain the teams.
Matabeleland North- The outreach teams are headed to Victoria Falls today and will wrap up tomorrow. In sereval meetings held in Hwange in the past days, devolution of power was top among other issues that were raised by the people in Matabeleland North. The province is well known for its richness in wild animals and timbre which have not benefitted local people hence their desire for the decentralisation of power so that they are able to make suitable decisions about their resources.People were able to express themselves without much intimidation in most areas this week when the outreach process was carried being out.
Matabeleland South- Constitutional meetings held in Matabeleland South yesterday called for the inclusion of the devolution of power. The residents also said that there is need for the ministry of finance to engage all communities when setting the budget for the country adding that this will see their areas also benefitting from the national cake. They said that traditional leaders should be given the power to carry out trials in their respective areas adding that they should also set the penalties in all the cases. Other residents however were against giving traditional leaders lot of power adding that this took away the right of a person to be tried represented by a lawyer.
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