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Activity update: Week ending 28 September 2012
Bulawayo Agenda
September 28, 2012

Nkayi Meeting

Through its Nkayi Agenda chapter, Bulawayo Agenda under the banner of Church and Civil Society Forum, held a Multi-Stakeholder meeting to consult the district leaders on how to prevent politically motivated violence and ensure peaceful constitutional referendum and general elections yesterday.

Four JOMIC representatives, 1 Min. of Women's Affairs,1 Min. of Youth, 1 Chief Skhobokhobo, representatives of Chief Nkalakatha and Chief Malindi, 12 Village Heads, 19 headman, Nkayi District Peace Committee, 22 Nkayi Rural District Councilors and leaders of Ginyinhlupho, a local Community Based Organisation, 4 representatives of political parties (MDC, ZANU PF, ZAPU, MDC-T), Churches (Christian Alliance) and community based organisations attended the meeting.

Participants said truth telling was the foundation towards healing and peace as victims still have unanswered questions on past violence. They called for creation of platforms for perpetrators to come out and disclose their role in the past violence.

They challenged Chiefs to abide by their traditional mandate and avoid being used as political tools to promote violence. Youths called for support through income generation projects so as to reduce their vulnerability to politicians especially during election periods.

Participants called for an explanation on what President Mugabe meant by "A moment of madness" when he referred to the Gukurahundi genocide.

They said it was not clear whether it was the victim or the perpetrator who was "mad" during this period.

Devolution of power was also described as a key ingredient for peace in the area as participants condemned exploitation of their resources to develop other areas.

Political parties represented in the meeting committed themselves to promoting peace in the area serve for ZANU PF whose representative Inos Khanye said he had no powers to do so.

What they said

• Traditional leaders are supposed to be custodian of peace. They should be neutral and protect everyone. - Hon. Abedenico Bhebhe (MDC-T)
• Peace is about security, freedom of expression and equitable distribution of resources. - Thabani Nyoni (Bulawayo Agenda Director)
• It is our role to nature and promote peace as a community. - Royal Ntini (Bulawayo Agenda Chairperson)
• We have to address the past so as to shape the future for generations to come. - Rev. Usen Sibanda (Christian Alliance Director)
• Devolution is the answer for sustainable peace. - John Dlamini (ZAPU)

Bulawayo Meeting

At least 500 people thronged the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel to attend a Bulawayo Agenda and Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Talk Show yesterday. The meeting was to discuss the issues around the 2nd All Stakeholders' Conference and a suitable framework to ensure a successful process.

The speakers were Joshua Mhambi of the MDC, Hon Douglas Mwonzora the MDC-T Co-Chairperson in COPAC, Steven Nkiwane of ZAPU,George Tshabangu of ZANU PF, Charles Mungofa of Mavambo party, Effie Ncube (MACRA-Director), Thabani Nyoni (Bulawayo Agenda Director and Spokesperson for Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition)

COPAC co-chairperson stated that the draft constitution, and no other draft, shall be taken to the 2nd all stakeholders' conference. He said the national data document shall also be taken to the 2nd all stakeholders conference and that the national report shall only be produced after the stakeholders' conference.

He also said the national report shall include the proceedings of the stakeholders' conference. Other speakers at the meeting said the conference should be as inclusive as possible as all Zimbabweans are stakeholders in the constitution making process.

Civil society representatives demanded transparency on how civil society delegates shall be selected. They promised to boycott the second all stakeholders' conference if they will be nominated by political parties and made to attend only on their benevolence.

This was one of the nine points civil society has drafted on the build up to the 2nd all stakeholders, conference. The participants questioned the credibility of the ZRP in providing security at the conference. They made reference to the 1st stakeholders' conference which degenerated into chaos while police officers were watching.

What they said

• Civil society and other parties outside the GPA should get involved in the All-stakeholders' conference as they were in the outreach process. - Joshua Mhambi
• Every Zimbabwean is a stakeholder in the constitution making process and the delegates stakeholders' conference should be as representative of the population of Zimbabwe as possible. - Adv. Steven Nkiwane.
• All we wanted to check was that the views expressed by the people in the outreach process were captured in the COPAC draft constitution. We are also aware that we are having a compromise document. - George Tshabangu
• "Devolution promotes efficiency and accountability, non-performers will be easily recalled. - Mr Charles Mungofa
• As civil society we want to go to the 2nd all stakeholders independently and not out of the benevolence of political parties. - Thabani Nyoni.
• We want a constitution that reflects the views of the people of Zimbabwe and not that which will only consolidate the stay of some political parties in government. - Effie Ncube
• I am the gatekeeper of the COPAC information and I know that 6 out of ten provinces clearly said they want devolution and that 10 out of 10 provinces want control of their natural resources. - Douglas Mwonzora

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