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Zimbabwe pro-democracy civic group plunges into credibility crisis
ZimOnline
May 29, 2006

http://www.zimonline.co.za/headdetail.asp?ID=12183

HARARE - Zimbabwe's largest pro-democracy civic group, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), appeared severely crippled after a violent annual general meeting at the weekend at which the group's constitution was controversially amended to keep chairman Lovemore Madhuku in power.

The NCA - bringing together churches, women and human rights groups, opposition political parties, the student and labour movements - campaigns for a new constitution for Zimbabwe which should among other democratic provisions trim presidential powers and limit presidential terms.

It shot into prominence in 2000 when it successfully mobilised Zimbabweans to block a government-sponsored draft constitution that would have entrenched President Robert Mugabe's rule. The civic alliance is seen by the government as among its biggest opponents alongside the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party and the labour movement.

But University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer John Makumbe said the NCA was now weaker and lacked the moral authority to demand Mugabe not to unilaterally change Zimbabwe's Constitution to suit his political needs when its own leaders were failing to uphold the alliance's constitution.

"From now onwards, the NCA is going to be weaker and no one is going to take it seriously," said Makumbe. "It is gravely wounded if not crippled. How will it call for a democratic national constitution when its leaders are busy changing the NCA constitution as it suits them? It did what Mugabe is exactly doing."

Former NCA deputy chairman Douglas Mwonzora described the alliance's future as uncertain. He added that violence and fighting that broke out as delegates quarreled over the constitutional changes were not expected of a civic organisation campaigning for lawful and peaceful constitutional reform.

"What happened on Saturday is tragic. There was violence and everything that is least expected from the NCA. I could not stand it," said Mwonzora, who left the meeting when violence flared, resulting in one delegate from Bulawayo being seriously injured.

"Obviously, I am concerned about the direction we are now taking. If that was the decision of the people (to amend constitution) I respect it but it was a wrong decision. It is a mockery of who we are," added, Mwonzora, who is a lawyer.

The constitutional amendments that were adopted with approval from more than 90 percent of delegates allowed Mdhuku to extend his tenure as chairman by another five years.

Under the old NCA constitution, Madhuku would not have been eligible for re-election after serving the maximum two terms of two years each.

Madhuku, who insiders said single-handedly drafted the controversial amendments, brushed aside accusations that he was clinging on to power the same way Mugabe was doing, saying the amendments were adopted at a legitimate annual general meeting of the NCA.

He said: "We have to move on …. I do not care what the media has been and will say. The issue of amendments has sailed through. My only concern is on how to get a good constitution for Zimbabwe."

At the Saturday general meeting, the police had to be called in to quell violence after Madhuku's militant supporters threatened to run riot, beating up delegates who were opposed to changing the constitution.

One delegate who had stood up to express his reservations about changing the constitution to allow Madhuku another term was severely assaulted and sustained serious head injuries. - ZimOnline

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