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NCA
participates at the 17th edition of the World Youth and Students
Conference
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
December
18, 2010
The National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) through its South African office yesterday
17 December 2010, took part in a regional seminar at the 17th World
Youth and Students Conference currently underwear in Pretoria South
Africa.
The seminar which was organised by the South African
Liaison Office SALO in conjunction with the World Democratic Youth
Federation was held under the theme ''Building a Youth
Consensus on Zimbabwe.''
The meeting held at the Burgers Park Hotel also
coincided with the Book Launch, ''Is there Democracy
in Swaziland" written by a youthful female South African activist
Rebone Tau Ramphomane. The seminar brought delegates from different
countries drawn from the SADC region, notably South Africa, Swaziland,
Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the seminar Munjodzi Mutandiri, NCA
Regional Office Coordinator said; '' Zimbabwe does not
only belong to those who fought in the liberation struggle, it also
belongs to this present generation of young people and the generations
to come after us. We are aware that it remains our historic task
to take up the mantle of the values and principles of the liberation
struggle. We also note that the former liberation movements, after
leading people to freedom have abrogated the same value and principle
of a democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe.''
Blessing Vava, a former student leader and NCA Press
Officer called for unity of purpose amongst the young people in
the region. Commenting on the sad developments at the World Youth
and Students Festival, Vava had this to say, ''From
the information we have been gathering since we arrived in Pretoria,
the session held to discuss the Zimbabwe on Wednesday, and the resolutions
passed thereof do not in any way represent the views and the aspirations
of the young people in Zimbabwe. We have heard cases of some Zimbabwean
delegates who were attending this conference but do not subscribe
to the ideologies of ZANU PF being visited in their hotel rooms
late at night by ZANU PF thugs and threatened with unspecified action
if they continue participating at the event.'' The delegates
have since left South Africa fearing for their lives. Another delegate
from Swaziland had his jacket torn and manhandled by ZANU PF youths
when he likened Swaziland's King Mswati to Robert Mugabe during
a debate.
The two Zimbabwean speakers also took the opportunity
to clarify matters related to the constitution making process in
Zimbabwe and outlined the NCA's roadmap, the Take Charge's
NO VOTE Campaign and the recently launched Act Now Against Political
Violence Campaign. Responding to a question about the campaign against
political violence, Mutandiri said that its sole objective was to
address the scourge of political violence as the country approaches
yet another election next year. ''We are raising awareness,
and capacitating women and communities at large to deal with the
scourge,'' said Mutandiri. He further called on the
region to support this noble initiative.
Former Young Communist League International Coordinator
George Raphela said that the problem in Zimbabwe was a result of
a few black capitalists who are clinging to power so that they continue
exploiting the poor.
On the Swaziland
issue, exiled former Swaziland National Union of Students President
Puis Vilakati narrated the struggles of the people of his country
calling for support and solidarity from pro-democratic forces in
the region. He expressed his worries on the silence on Swaziland
by the media and regional governments.
Visit the NCA
fact
sheet
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