Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Eric Matinenga, said the priority for now in the constitutional making process, is to create a safe environment and an atmosphere which is free from fear for the outreach programme. (Pictured: Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Eric Matinenga)In an interview with SW Radio Africa, a day after the conclusion of the All-Stakeholders Conference in Harare, Matinenga said the process was now entering a critical phase–that of consulting the people. As a member of government Im hoping that we will not let our people down. We will create an environment which is conducive for an effective participation by the people in the constitution making process, Matinenga said.
Obviously there is going to be a lot of introspection on the part of government arising out of the hooligans that disrupted Mondays proceedings. But I am glad to say the three principals Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, have clearly stressed this process will not be stopped by hooligans or anyone, Matinenga added.
Civil society blames the former ZANU PF government for lacking the political will to create conditions for citizens to exercise their political, social and economic rights and making it impossible to have elections that are free, transparent and credible.
The inclusive government has done little to disband ZANU PF militias or arrest perpetrators of political violence, the groups complain. The civil groups also accuse the government of intimidating the media and trying to stifle its critics. Matinenga said the ability to carry out the four month long outreach programme, free of intimidation, is a crucial milestone in the development of the countrys troubled road leading to free and fair elections after the exercise.
In the run up to the June 2008 presidential elections the MDC says 200 of its supporters were killed and at least 500,000 were forced from their homes by ZANU PF militias. There are still fears that insecurity in some parts of the country will restrict the ability and willingness of many people to participate in the outreach programme.
It is imperative that state and local preparedness efforts be well coordinated to prevent, protect and respond to any attempt to disrupt the process, Matinenga said.
He said 16 sub-committees, formed at the just-ended conference, will tour the country, holding thousands of meetings until mid-November, soliciting the public about what they want to see in a new constitution.
These opinions will be collated and transformed into a draft constitution, which will then be subjected to a referendum about the middle of next year, followed by national elections.
Post published in: Politics