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Address to delegates at the 2nd People's Constitutional Convention
Clever Bere, Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
July 27, 2009

The Chairperson of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Dr Madhuku, NCA Task force members herein present,

President of ZCTU, president Matombo, Secretary General Chibebe, ZCTU leadership herein present,

The National Executive Council members of ZINASU, General Councilors, and the entire leadership of ZINASU,

Comrades and friends, I bring to you all, on behalf of the entire students community our heartfelt and revolutionary greetings.

Today, at this historic venue, we are here fully conscious of the responsibility that lies on our shoulders, particularly at this moment, when we seek to protect our revolutionary gains and seek to increase such gains. We meet today to debate, discuss and resolve on the course of action we have to take to make sure our one and only beloved country realize the dream of a genuine democratic people driven constitution.

Mr Chairman, on behalf of the students union, I wish to reaffirm our resolve and determination to continue agitating for that foundation Zimbabwe so much need, that foundation to our democracy. Our resolve for a genuine people driven constitution can never be underestimated.

At the Working Peoples Convention in February 1999, the working class people of Zimbabwe, the students of Zimbabwe, the peasants and the toiling masses of this country, having met to discuss the continued hardships in the country, resolved, as the first resolution, that, "The writing of a people's constitution be initiated with immediate effect, through a constitutional commission NOT based on Presidential/partisan appointment, but defined by and accountable to a conference of representatives of elected, civil and other social groups." I am glad the custodian of the resolution, ZCTU, remains with us today, remains firm and committed to the resolutions.

I further wish to remind our colleagues in the MDC, at this historic convention in our revolutionary struggle for democracy of their manifesto of August 1999 that was subsequently adopted by the inaugural congress of 28 February 2000 states that "The MDC rejects the current appointed constitutional commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act, and will facilitate the writing of a people's constitution through a constitutional commission defined by and accountable to a conference of representatives of elected, civil and other social groups, after mass education on the constitution".

This is the song we still sing today.

It is indeed naïve, parochial and stupid for our colleagues in MDC to expect us to follow them as they rush with the baton stick into the mountains instead of either handing it over to those with reserves of energy to continue with the struggle or sprint to the finishing line. We are further disappointed by the continued insult on our intelligence by the drivers of this pilsner driven process, who continue to blatantly lie to us that this process is people driven.

We are glad note that barely two weeks after announcing our position, as a tripartite alliance of like minded grassroots movements, today we have been joined by those revolutionary and progressive organizations and individuals who have already endorsed our position. We are very much encouraged.

Our determination and resolve must be strengthened as we intensify our revolutionary struggle for a democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe. A genuine people driven and democratic constitution remains the only vehicle for complete and authentic liberation of the suffering and toiling workers, students and masses of Zimbabwe.

By the end of this historic Convention, we expect to come up with a program of action that protects our revolutionary gains, and increase such gains in our struggle for a genuine people driven constitution.

Mwonzora and Mangwana must be stopped. Mugabe and Tsvangirai must be stopped. The Biti, Welshman, Chinamasa whisky driven Kariba draft must be stopped. Never, never, never shall we allow politicians of the day to manipulate the people of this country using their popularity. We will not allow that.

It is indeed a fact that our struggle has been drawn out and protracted. It is indeed a fact that some of our colleagues are getting burn out. It is indeed a fact that some thinks we have reached our final destination. We are very conscious of that.

Mr Chairman, comrades and friends, we have reached a defining moment in our revolutionary struggle for democratic, prosperous and free Zimbabwe. We have reached this stage amidst numerous losses. We will never betray our fallen heroes and heroins who sacrified their precious lives for this country. We have to complete the struggle for total independence ad freedom. What we doing is just taking forward what Cde Tongogara, Cde Chitepo, Afred Nikita Mangena, Edson Sithole, Joshua Nkomo and all revolutionaries of the liberation struggle started. We must never betray them.

We must never betray our heroes of our contemporary struggle. Never shall we betray the spirit of Learnmore Jongwe, Beta Chokururama, Tonderai Ndira, Kauzani and all the revolutionary comrades who were murdered by the Mugabe regime only for demanding a people driven constitution.

We must always remember our genuine, fallen heroes who sacrificed for the independence of this country. Tens of thousands of the toiling masses of Zimbabwe were killed by Ian Smith, killed for demanding a free and democratic Zimbabwe. Tens of thousand more were killed by the regime that succeeded Smith.

Our future can never be entrusted into the hands of politicians.

In conclusion, Mr Chairman, on behalf of the revolutionary students of Zimbabwe, I wish to stress once more, the need for greater and active solidarity and objective political complementarity amongst ourselves, the suffering students of Zimbabwe, the suffering workers of Zimbabwe, the unemployed youth of this country, and the suffering peasants of this country.

We must therefore continue to attend to the question of building and strengthening our movement and alliance with the greatest vigour, so that we can discharge our historic responsibilities to our country and people, recognising the fact that without our movement, acting as a strong and united force, it will be impossible to achieve a people driven democratic constitution and the fundamental transformation of our society which the people demand and expect.

Finally, I wish to express our disappointment, as a student's movement, on how this inclusive government has treated students. Thousands of students have dropped out of school as a result of the satanic fees structure introduced by our schools colleges and universities. I however find solace in the level of revolutionary zeal from the current generation of student activist in their struggle against this retrogressive privatization of Education agenda by the Harare administration.

We will achieve a democratic, genuine people driven constitution. We will achieve free education for all. We will archive decent work and decent wage for our people.

Comrades and friends, our mandate enjoins us to pursue our objective without fear and without apology

The struggle must continue until the enemy crushes. Victory is certain.

Aluta continua

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