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Activity update
Bulawayo Agenda
May 10, 2012

Bulawayo Agenda, in collaboration with the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition held a Civil Society Constitution Update meeting on Monday, the 7th of May at the Democracy Centre (BA offices) for civil society leaders and activists to meet with Constitution select Committee (Copac) Co-Chairperson, Hon. Douglas Mwonzora to discuss the latest draft constitution that has been released by Copac. Below is what transpired in the meeting:

Constitution to enhance democracy and development - Mwonzora

. . . as devolved governance is agreed on, citizenship and bill of rights are expanded

Devolution of power in the new constitution shall ensure equal and sustainable development in the country's provinces. This was said by Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) co-chairperson, Hon. Douglas Mwonzora (MP) at a civil society constitution update meeting organized by Bulawayo Agenda recently.

The meeting was held at the organization's Democracy Centre, was attended by civil society leaders and was part of Bulawayo Agenda's ongoing constitution-update meetings.

Mwonzora told the civic leaders and activists that devolution of power should result in a democratic government and provincial government must be well resourced - should not be starved of resources.

"With that in mind," explained Mwonzora, "we created an equalization fund because the provinces might be equal in terms of political rights, but not the same in terms of natural endowment and the tapping of resources at a particular time. The fund will help fill the gaps that may exist in the budgets of the provinces as they (provincial governments) shall have budgetary powers as well. "

He added that the budgets shall be funded from both provincial and national coffers.

The move by Copac follows outbursts from a number of communities that have on numerous occasions petitioned the current centralized government for usurping resources from the provinces.

Following the premature publishing of the draft constitution in February, there have been numerous concerns raised over the parking of critical components of the constitution which include Devolution of Power and Dual citizenship.

On dual citizenship, Mwonzora said the non-inclusion of the issue in the latest draft constitution was because of the prolonged debates on the issue within Copac. The draft transfers responsibility to an act of parliament to deal with the issue at a later stage.

Participants however took a swipe at Copac for relying so much on Parliament on the issues. They said the move does not guarantee Dual Citizenship as the Parliament in question may ban it altogether.

It also came to light during the meeting that the institution of chiefs shall be retained with Mwonzora saying that efforts have been made to ensure that traditional leaders do not meddle in politics. He said although they shall be traditional leadership representation in the senate, traditional leaders shall not be allowed to vote as by doing so, they would be making political decisions.

Hon. Mwonzora acknowledged the critical role played by civil society in the entire constitution making process. He said Copac relies on CSOs in publicizing the draft constitution which, according to initial Copac timelines, shall be put to a referendum in September.

The civil society leaders also challenged Copac to leave nothing to chance and retain the integrity of the process and Copac by ensuring that the constitution encapsulates the views of the citizens as collected during the outreach process. There were concerns on provisions on land, traditional leaders, term of office of president, powers of provincial governments, number of provinces and the tone of political party views seemingly overriding the citizens' views in the draft constitution.

The overarching concern was also on whether the country is heading for a constitutional democracy rather than a presidential one as shown by the powers bequeathed upon a sitting president and the role of parliament.

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