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NCA women take to the street over the poll
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
February 23, 2005

http://www.nca.org.zw/NEWS/Demo23_02.htm

Women numbering more 300 from the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) this afternoon demonstrated in Harare against holding of Zimbabwe's Parliamentary elections this year before a new constitution is in place.

Zimbabweans go to the polls on 31 March to elect MPs.

The women waving placards, chanting anti-current constitution songs and distributing NCA pamphlets marched from Copacabana Bus terminus to Africa Unity Square where they dispersed on their own just before the police arrived to quell the demonstration.

The police armed to the teeth was greeted with NCA pamphlets and placards.

The placards had the following messages inscribed on them: "We want an Independent Electoral Commission - But in a new constitution," "PEOPLE SPEAK: We are tired of intimidation, violence and rigging," and "Twenty Years of Electoral Fraud. A New Constitution."

No arrests were made, unlike last week.

The women were led by Thabitha Khumalo, the NCA Gender Committee Chairperson.

Earlier in the day, the NCA National Chairperson Lovemore Madhuku, issued a statement giving the reason why the NCA was demonstrating.

"Today, the NCA is again staging a peaceful demonstration. The purpose of the demonstration is for the NCA to communicate the following message to the people of Zimbabwe:

This election is neither free nor fair because it is being held under a constitution which is so oppressive that only the ruling regime of Zanu PF led by President Mugabe has any chance of 'winning' it. This is why the Mugabe regime is excited about the election while the majority of the people largely remain indifferent. Zanu PF has already 30 seats in its pocket before the election starts! Zimbabweans must realise that unless they first put in place a democratic and people driven constitution, elections in Zimbabwe will remain a fraud to give 'legitimacy' to the rule of Zanu PF. This is unacceptable and the NCA calls upon Zimbabweans to support the call for a genuine constitutional reform process. This is the only route that will guarantee democracy and prosperity for or country."

The NCA will continue with these demonstrations in the next few weeks to ensure that this message reaches all corners of our country. It is our God-given right to express ourselves in this way and POSA is irrelevant.

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