Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Stop-Go constitution making process taking us nowhere
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
May 18, 2011

Download this document
- Acrobat PDF version (307KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking here

Last week we had one of those 'high sounding nothing' debates between ZANU-PF and the two MDCs regarding the methodology and the tools of data analysis to be used in the constitutional review process. The pointless debate is just is an affirmation that the process will result in another Kariba-draft negotiated among the three main political parties.

The debate was interesting in that it revealed a truth that many proponents of the parliamentary constitutional committee (COPAC) process are unwilling to accept: that this is a directionless process meant to make the inclusive government appear busy. We are told that ZANU-PF was reneging on the method of analysis agreed upon on the 12th of April 2011. This means that the for the constitutional reform project that began over two years ago, there was no agreement on the methodology and tools of data analysis until a month ago!

Anyone who has done some research will surely know that when you design a project you should be clear of the methodology until the end. The question to pose is: how were the outreaches' questionnaires designed when it was not known whether it was a qualitative or quantitative analysis that was going to be used?

It is critical to note in this process that the so called civic society deputy chairs have fallen by the wayside. When this process began after massive criticisms of how partisan the constitution making process was; the three political parties developed a strategy to accommodate and cow civic society; which was to create a deputy chair ship for civics. Now as the thematic groups start their work the structures have changed. So when planned disputes arise civil society representatives that are in this process are mere bystanders and servants of political parties who wait for direction from their principals; rather than having a full, autonomous voice of their own.

It is in this context of COPAC' s two year life span that even those that still 'want us to believe' COPAC will produce a constitution need to start to urgently plan for a highly likely 'NO vote' eventuality. As the SADC extra ordinary summit to discuss the election Road Map and the GPA convenes in Namibia on the 20 May the leadership needs to weigh the options and consider that a NO vote to the draft constitution is a real possibility that cannot be ignored.

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and its allies firmly believe that the COPAC process is not a people driven process and should be rejected through a NO Vote at referendum. Our desperation to move forward as a country must not lead us into a pit of uncertainty. The concept of constitutionalism is one that has developed over time until it became clear that indeed ordinary man and women can author their own laws on how they want to be governed. We do not need a hurried constitutional reform process, but one that is proper and truly captures the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.

Download full document

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP