Much of the criticism has focused on the fact that Robert Mugabe announced at the beginning of the conference that the principals in the unity government will have the final say on what changes are to be made to the draft produced by parliament. This makes the entire reform exercise pointless, some observers said.
There has also been strong criticism of the civil society groups that participated under the umbrella of political parties, as this comprised their independence. The wishes of the people that contributed during the outreach programme have long been forgotten.
Blessing Vava, director at the Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC), which lobbies government on constitutional issues, told SW Radio Africa that the conference was a waste of time because no changes were made to the draft produced by the parliamentary select committee, COPAC.
Vava explained that opening comments by Robert Mugabe saying that the principals would have the final say also invalidated the entire exercise. “It is not surprising that nothing came out of the sessions. The same three parties simply met at a much bigger venue after they had failed to agree in their offices, at COPAC level. The process was bad, undemocratic and not proper,” Vava said.
Vava blasted some of the civic groups that participated, saying many had been invited to the offices of the MDC-T and were coached on what to say in the sessions. Their names at the venue also appeared on the MDC-T list.
ZANU PF also met with their delegates ahead of the Conference, provided them printed materials and coached them on what to say in the thematic groups. According to the activist, only one group refused to be associated with political parties and went as observers.
Vava said Article 6 of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) made it clear that civics would be invited “at the behest” of COPAC. But the GPA was not clear as to the purpose of the conference itself.
The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) dismissed the conference as illegitimate and a “national tragedy of epic proportions”. In a statement released Thursday, the group said the process was “undemocratic” and sessions should have been cancelled after Mugabe told delegates the principals would have the final say.
The NCA said they strongly urge “all Zimbabweans to reject the national deception that is COPAC and Article 6 of the GPA by voting ‘No’ to the Principals draft constitution when the referendum is held”. SW Radio Africa
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