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Taking the constitution debate to the people - Vengere, Rusape
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
August 12, 2009

On Friday 7 August 2009, crisis in Zimbabwe coalition held a district consultative meeting attended by 50 community leaders at Vengere hall, Rusape aimed at gathering views and recommendations from the populace on the constitutional making process. The following issues were raised with regards to both the constitutional making process and content.

Process

• It is necessary for Zimbabweans to author a new constitution as the Lancaster House constitution does not reflect the views of the people.
• The Kariba draft should be as a reference point as its penning was non-inclusive
• There is a need for extensive civic education on constitutional issues
• A provision should be put in place guaranteeing that the 3 principles to the global political agreement (GPA) particularly the president do not charge the input made by Zimbabweans
• The current constitution, Kariba draft, and National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Drafts should be distributed to the people before the consultation process to allow for informed debate and input
• The process might be marred by organized political violence such as the setting up of bases in rural areas to intimidate the populace. There is thus need for civil society to intensify civic education and encourage all Zimbabweans to remain steadfast by clearly stating their demands.

Content

1. Separation of powers

• The doctrine of separation of powers should be clearly laid out in the constitution
• Cabinet posts should be limited to 15.in addition, it was noted that ministerial appointments must be elected members of parliament as opposed to the current situation where politicians who lost elections were put in cabinet.

2. Public finance

• There is need to clearly define the role of the reserve bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor

3. Transitionary mechanisms and independent commissions

• Critical institutions particularly army, police, judiciary, human rights commission and Zimbabwe Media Commission should remain apolitical and professional

4. Elections

• Zimbabweans in the Diaspora should allowed to vote
• The voter's roll should be audited annually to ensure that 'ghost voters are eliminated
• Polling officers should have no political affiliation
• The regional and international community should be allowed to observe elections

5. Citizenship and Bill of Rights

• There is need to enshrine the rights of education ,health and clean water in the constitution
• The government must domesticate signed international covenants which protect and promote citizens' rights
• The citizen law should be changed to allow foreign nationals born in Zimbabwe the rights to Zimbabwean citizenship

6. Media

• It must clearly be stated in the constitution that the public should be non-partisan

Conclusively, Rusape residents noted that there is need for all Zimbabweans particularly in the higher echelons of government to respect constitutional provisions as a new constitution without constitutionalism will not solve the problems faced in the country

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