The director, Philip Pasirayi, told The Zimbabwean his organisation had recently visited Karoi, Magunje and some surrounding rural areas and found that people were completely ignorant of the draft constitution – to the extent of not being aware of how to vote in Saturday’s referendum.
Some villagers were even ignorant of the date of the referendum. “It is a challenge to government and other stakeholders if people living less than 150 km from the capital city express ignorance about the contents and date for the constitutional referendum,” said Pasirayi.
Some participants at the CCDZ meetings asked for guidance, saying they did not know the contents of the draft. They said CCDZ was the first organisation to visit them in connection with the referendum. “Copac never visited this area except during the outreach meetings where people were not allowed to speak,” said one.
Some lucky ones came across politicians who talked about the draft constitution in passing, but without explaining the finer details, they said. Pasirayi said the situation was not healthy for the future of the country as people were supposed to participate in the referendum from an informed point of view.
CCDZ will participate in the referendum through assigning observers to follow the proceedings on Saturday.
A number of organisations, including The Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the National Constitutional Assembly, have expressed concern that the four weeks given for people to prepare for the referendum and the lack of available copies of the draft.
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