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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Taking the constitutional debate to the people
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
July 12, 2010
"A
constitution is a social contract on how people want to be governed
by their leaders" (Arthur Taderera (ZIMCODD) speaking during
an outreach meeting
Marambapfungwe
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition in collaboration with Savvana Trust held a Community Theatre
Forum at Mutata Business Centre in Marambapfungwe on the 10th of
July 2010. The objective of the theatre forum was to educate inform
and update the people on the ongoing constitutional
making process.
Savvana drama
group performed an interactive play entitled Shandai (Work) which
captures socio-economic issues and the challenges that Zimbabweans
face daily. The play also highlighted how different political backgrounds
affect one's view on issues.
Participants
reported that they were told not to say anything during the outreach
meetings and threatened with dearth if they do not comply by alleged
Zimbabwe African National Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) supporters.
Participants were concerned about their security after speaking
out during the outreach meetings. "Who will guarantee my safety
when the outreach tem leaves Marambapfungwe?" quizzed one
participant.
Copies of the
Global Political Agreement
(GPA), revised talking points, informative fliers and brochures
on the constitution making process were distributed as supporting
material. The Theatre Forum was attended by 40 people (15 women
and 25 men)
Muzarabani
On Friday 09
July 2010, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition visited Muzarabani,
ward 19 with community leaders as part of the broad program to engage
citizen participation in the ongoing constitutional outreach program.
The program sought to capacitate residents of Muzarabani to make
informed choices and inputs. The meeting was facilitated by Crisis
Coalition Secretariat (Maria Mache and Mfundo Mlilo), Arthur Taderera
from Zimbabwe
Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and George Makoni
from Youth Alliance for Democracy (YAD).
The meetignwas
a poorly attended due high levels of intimidatin within Muzarabani.
A night before the meeting an aspiring Member of Parliament had
been attached with an axe and beaten with logs by a known group
of rowdy ZANU PF thugs. People are being told to "Shut up"
in COPAC meetings or risk being beaten up. This effectively demobilized
and threatened any would be attendees to the meeting. However, fifteen
brave residents from Muzarabani ward 19 managed to attend the meeting
and shared their experiences with the Crisis team.
Issues
raised
Questions from
residents on various issues on the talking points with particular
emphasis on the following;
- Citizenship
and bill of rights
- Women and
gender issues
- Transitional
Mechanism and independent commissions
- Elections
- Public finance
Participants
at this meeting also expressed their concern over ZANU PF strategy
of silencing people by planting a group of speakers. They indicated
that they were told not to participate in the COPAC meetings.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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