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Matabeleland
North Constitutional and Electoral Reforms Conference
Bulawayo Agenda
November 21, 2011
Lupane
On Saturday
19 October 2011, Lupane Agenda hosted the Matabeleland North Regional
Conference which gave Bulawayo Agenda's regional committees
in the province an opportunity to deliberate on constitutional and
electoral issues. Theme of the conference was "Regional Perspectives
on Constitutional and Electoral Process: Towards Information Awareness
and Culture of Engagement at Regional Level."
The objectives
of the conference included furnishing the participants with information
on the constitution making process; its timelines, content issues
and the referendum. Participants had an opportunity to interact
with presenters who were drawn from diverse fields ranging from
the academia to COPAC officials.
95 participants
drawn from political leaders, civic leaders, local/traditional leaders
and experts from Binga, Hwange, Nkayi, Lupane, Victoria Falls, Tsholotsho,
Bubi, Umguza convened to deliberate on key positions on the remaining
stages of the constitution
making process, key content positions and the referendum. The
political parties were invited to state their positions on these
and speak to the build-up to the impending elections.
Conference
Recommendations
- Delegates
at the Mat North Regional Conference made recommendations which
shall be followed-up by the Bulawayo Agenda. The delegates,
- Encouraged
political parties to form an electoral pact to avoid splitting
the vote and retaining the current system which has failed Zimbabwe
since 1980.
- Urged CSOs
to widely publicize the draft constitution before the referendum
and continue in their efforts to create awareness around the issues
of constitution making.
- Said CSOs
should lead programs aimed at generating knowledge about the use
of natural resources in their localities.
- Demanded
the devolution of power should be un-amendable in the new constitution.
- Recognized
that all political parties are violent hence their respective
leaders should ensure that messages of peace should cascade down
to the structures.
- Encouraged
parents with school going children to take advantage of Lupane
State University as this will benefit the region in terms of human
resources.
- Called on
COPAC to speed up the constitution making process.
Gwanda
On Saturday (19/11/11), Gwanda Agenda held a meeting at Umzingwane
where participants, mainly women, called for the overhaul of the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in preparation of the next elections.
The participants
also expressed their impatience on the constitution making process
and urged COPAC to issue constant updates on the process especially
to the rural communities where there is limited access to both print
and electronic media.
Upcoming
activities
Bulawayo
1. Citizen
Journalism Training
Date: Friday,
25 November, 2011
Time: 0900hrs
Venue: TBA
Purpose: to
train Bulawayo Agenda focal persons on information gathering and
dissemination techniques.
2. Budget
Review Meeting
The purpose
of the meeting will be to review the National Budget to be announced
on the 22nd of November, 2011. Implications on various sectors in
the country and on the macro-economy.
Date: Monday,
28 November 2011
Time: 1630hrs
Venue: Bulawayo Club
Main Speaker: Dr Eric Bloch;
Participants:
Business Community, Policy makers, CSO leadership, labour and members
of the public.
Gweru
3. Public
Meeting '2011 in Retrospect'
The purpose
of the public meeting shall be to review 2011.
Date: Thursday,
01 December 2011
Time: 1400hrs
Venue: Rainbow Theatre
Moderator: Pastor
Mosi Tshuma
Speakers:
John Makumbe (Political Analyst)
Godwin Chimbaira (MDC National Chairman)
Morgan Komichi (MDC T Deputy National Chairman)
Mabhiza (ZANU PF)
Visit the Bulawayo
Agenda fact sheet
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