CONSTITUTION WATCH

It is indeed the duty of every patriotic Zimbabwean to support this endeavour, either by attending and giving their own views on what should be prescribed in the new constitution, or by giving the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitution (COPAC) logistical support on how best they can proceed especially now when they face mammoth challenges.

This phase of the constitution-making process is already shrouded in controversy with reports that the former ruling Zanu (PF) party is attempting to highjack the process by imposing nearly 300 uninvited celebrities from its ranks in an effort to influence the outcome of outreach team findings. COPAC members and the management committee must swiftly move in and stamp their authority by rooting out such malcontents from its ranks. The whole process is already far behind the GPA schedule and the nation can not be held at ransom by these few divisive elements.

Thematic committee members must explain to the people the whole essence of constitutionalism and the importance of freely expressing their will. They will obviously have to be assisted by our vibrant civil society who have to explain to ordinary Zimbabweans that it is critical for citizens to express their views.

There are already concerns from some quarters that the proposed use of civil servants to capture data will compromise this process. It is beyond debate that most of Provincial Administrators offices are staffed with Zanu (PF) members, but the same can not be said of the District Administrators offices, where there are progressive individual elements that can be of value to the process.

It is expected that the unrepentant Zanu (PF)-controlled state media will most likely portray a negative image of some thematic committees especially those perceived to be dominated by the MDC. We have seen it in the inclusive government where the Prime Minister and the MDC cabinet ministers have been demonized by the state media.

All Zimbabweans expect members of the MDC and civil society to conduct themselves in a professional and dignified manner throughout the exercise. They should know that they are under the microscopic eye of the entire nation. MDC must know that they are going into this exercise with a discredited Zanu (PF), which has fielded some of its malcontents as commissioners. Indeed this exercise is an acid test for the MDC which should swim and not sink in the sewage.

Civil society, the media and COPAC chairpersons have already expressed fears of possible violence. The outgoing Zanu (PF) regimes merchants of violence have already sharpened their axes against anyone who dares speak anything outside the Kariba draft. The onus lies with the ailing Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri, to rise to the occasion and make sure the police stem any outbreak of violence.

Although the ZRP has in the past displayed gross incompetence in handling political violence, this time the nation is pinning its hopes on the co-Home Affairs Ministers from the countrys two main political parties to consult each other on how to stop violence.

Zanu (PF) chief anarchists who have been named as commissioners should be explicitly reminded that they are going out there to capture peoples views and not to impose a constitution on Zimbabwe. Their previous violent exploits, which earned Zanu (PF) the presidency, is now a thing of the past and the nation should forge ahead.

The current constitution-making process should be used as an opportunity to extricate Zimbabwe from the ashes of poverty, intolerance, greed and plundering which has been the hallmark of Zimbabwean politics in the past decade. It is our current moment of truth where we should shape and define our future. – Morgen Kulare is the National Research and Advocacy Officer for Youth of Zimbabwe for Transparency and Progress (YZTP).