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Taking the Constitutional debate to the people; Munyati, Gweru, Chirumhanzu
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
February 02, 2010

Munyati, Gweru, Chirumhanzu

On the 23rd and 24th of February and the 1st of March 2010 Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition had three community meetings, in Munyati, Gweru, and Chirumhanzu respectively aimed at educating communities on and encouraging participation in the Constitution making process. A total of 178 people attended the three meetings, 82 were female and 92 were male.

Some participants expressed concern over the delay in the Constitutional outreach program while others were ignorant of the process itself. In Chirumhanzu, participants highlighted that they want a Constitution that preserves the Zimbabwean culture and tolerates and respects the elderly and the disabled. The following issues were raised with regards to the Constitution making process;

• There should be equal representation of men and women in the Constitution making process
• The process should be people driven and should not be rushed
• The final document should be a mirror that reflects the aspirations on the Zimbabweans
• There should not be intimidation and people should freely express themselves when the COPAC team carries out consultations

Issues raised on the content of the Constitution

Media

• Freedom of press should be guaranteed
• The Media Commission should be selected by Parliament

Citizenship and Bill of Rights

• The current Constitution does not have justiciable rights such as Education, Health and Freedom of Association, and the Bill of Rights should guarantee these rights.
• Citizens who are not Zimbabweans by origin but were born and bred in Zimbabwe should be recognized as legitimate Zimbabweans and should take part in national processes such as voting

Elections

• The Electoral Commission should be selected by Parliament and should be independent
• Political parties that initiate violence during elections should be disqualified from further contesting in the election
• Election results should be announced soon after the voting process
• The voters roll should be publicized

Women and Gender

• Women should also benefit from natural resources such as land and mines
• There should be stiff penalties for domestic violence

Religion

• Churches with religious beliefs that violate the rights of children should be banned
• There should be Freedom of Worship

Disabled

• The disabled should be respected and recognized as human beings
• The disabled should not pay the same amounts with the able when using public services such as transport
• The disabled should also benefit from land and other natural resources

Public Finance

• Citizens should input into the national and council budgets
• The day to day running of public finances should be publicized and any citizen should access them
• The Finance Minister should be impeached if he or she fails to deliver

Traditional Institutions and Customs

• Chiefs should come from their royal families but should be selected by the people, not President
• The Chiefs and Headmen should have a clear non-partisan role
• Traditional customs should be preserved but customs that violate the rights of other people should be banned.

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