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Constitutional feedback meetings
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD)
September 20, 2012

Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development participated in a public meeting that was facilitated by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network and Zimbabwe Institute, Innovative Thinking for Sustainable Future at Masvingo Civic Center. The meeting focused on the COPAC draft Constitution reviewing the opportunities for women as enshrined in the document. The panelist Hon Jeffreyson Chitando, Senator Mandava and representatives of the two smaller factions concurred that the draft had made great strides in addressing the challenges faced by women since independence in 1980. The process that was attended by close to 60 participants noted the need for women to fully participate in the remaining stages of the constitution making process. The panelist highlighted how the draft constitution sought to address the patriarchal nature of society that had deprived women of socioeconomic and political emancipation. Young people participated fully in the public meeting and highlighted the major concerns to the law makers who were present.

During the meeting the land issue was highlighted as women were forced to take usufruct rights and played second fiddle as compared to men. The public meeting however did not address how and what mechanisms were going to be put in place such that women can properly benefit from the constitution. Economic empowerment and political empowerment remained an elusive concept as no proper mechanisms were discussed by the lawmakers with Hon Chitando defending the draft highlighting that a constitution could not highlight the specifics as this was the role that could be played by the Acts of Parliament.

Participants indeed noted that the constitution was a welcome development to the proper democratization of the country and to embrace the millennium development goals that aimed at empowering women. Further to that was how could women ensure the document was going to be a resounding success considering the violent nature of the politics of Zimbabwe. Civic organizations were tasked by participants to take the education crusade to the rural areas and generate I.E.C material in vernacular so that women in the rural areas could benefit.

Violence was discussed as the stumbling bloc to the proper democratization agenda and the lawmakers were urged to discuss that in parliament and create ways and means if curbing political violence at party level and at national level.

Voter registration was noted as another measure that was supposed to be addressed as most women and young people do not posses any form of physical collateral that can be used as proof of residents. The lawmakers were encouraged to develop mechanism which should be aimed at addressing that every person with an identity document is a bonafide resident of Zimbabwe and is a Zimbabwean therefor is liable to become a registered voter.

The Zebra Crossing was discussed as a way that was going to be introduced such that women become politically empowered ahead of future polls.

However the public meeting was disrupted by 10 ZANU PF youths who were later arrested.

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