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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
People driven constitution - Input from economically disadvantaged
Zimbabwe
Unemployed People's Association (ZUPA)
September 26, 2012
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To:
Civic Society Organisation in Zimbabwe
Cc:
COPAC
ZUPA which represents
the interests of millions of economically disadvantaged people acknowledges
the expressed intention of the Zimbabwe Government to craft a people
driven constitution through COPAC. Having consulted our wide
and diverse membership, it is clear that the new constitution for
Zimbabwe must preserve the legacy of the liberation struggle, ensure
a 50-50 gender balance in all elected offices, facilitate devolution
in a single state, allow dual citizenship and Diaspora vote and
create a Senate independent of political parties that will be the
oversight chamber. All independent commissions must be committees
of the independent senate that must not have any member of a political
party but independent professionals able to hold politicians to
account. There is also a call to raise the quality of elected officials.
We welcomed
the public outreach process in good faith hoping that the input
of the people would form the content of the new constitution of
Zimbabwe. On that note, we welcome the decision to avail the National
Statistical Report at the Second All Stakeholders Conference.
We are however
concerned that the current draft done in July 2012 by COPAC appears
to move away from the expressed views of the Zimbabweans and instead
favours a negotiated approach between the parties in the GNU.
We believe the
original intention was not another negotiated Kariba
Draft but a new Constitution for Zimbabwe informed by the undiluted
views of the ordinary Zimbabweans.
We are also
concerned that whereas an estimated 4 million Zimbabweans in the
Diaspora made contributions in a compiled document submitted and
officially received by COPAC, Diaspora views do not appear to have
been factored in the National Statistical Report percentages. The
Diaspora clearly asked for dual citizenship, devolution of power
and Diaspora Vote.
ZUPA is working
to seek support from delegates attending the 2nd All Stakeholders
conference for the following views from ordinary Zimbabweans including
those in the Diaspora to be included in the new constitution of
Zimbabwe.
1. Gender
Balance
a. Both Parliament
and Senate shall have 50% Male and 50% Female elected officers.
b. How
i. Neighbouring
constituencies shall be paired. The 2 constituencies together shall
have 2 lists, 1 for male candidates and 1 for female candidates.
ii. Voters shall
elect 1 male and 1 female candidate by alternative vote.
iii. The winner
from the male list and the winner from the female list shall be
the Members of Parliament for the 2 constituencies, working together.
iv. 4 neighbouring
constituencies shall be combined for the purposes of Senatorial
elections.
v. A male and
a female list of candidates shall be provided for senate elections
for the 4 constituencies.
vi. A male winner
and a female winner shall be the senators for the 2 pairs of constituencies.
c. Rationale
i. Zimbabwe
has a 50-50 comparable ratio of males and females. It is only democratic
and fair that there is equal representation to ensure that the laws
of the country and Government reflect the issues of the population.
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