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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Senate Elections Results & Index of articles
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition's position on the 17th constitutional amendment
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
October 11, 2005
President Robert
Mugabe declared the 26th of November as the date for senate
elections, following the bulldozing of the 17th constitutional
amendment through the parliament in August 2005.
Crisis in Zimbabwe
Coalition does not agree with both of the constitutional amendment number
17 and its dictates, which include the senate, restriction of people’s
movement and the nationalisation of all land. We view the government’s
action as a piecemeal solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Crisis Coalition maintains
that, in view of the political and socio-economic state of Zimbabwe, the
country needs a new people written constitution, which will be followed
by free and fair and internationally monitored elections.
The introduction of
the senate at this point in Zimbabwe’s history does not make socio-economic
sense. After independence, Zimbabwe had a senate and it was dismantled
because it was regarded as excess. Zimbabwe’s economy needs a leaner but
progressive government. Therefore, the 2005 senate issue is a threat to
economic turn-around programmes, especially relief aid to the poor and
disadvantaged.
It is our strong view
that the senate issue is being introduced more as a Zanu PF party succession
issue than a national people’s demand. The senate means employment and
retirement packages for former Zanu PF MPs who lost seats in the recently
held 2005 March Parliamentary Election, and the old guard that has been
sidelined since 1980.
Thirdly, the state
of Zimbabwean politics does not warrant the introduction of an upper house.
The Zimbabwean political field is heavily polarised with people making
decisions more on party lines than objectivity and nobility of ideas.
Therefore, to entrench such a system of governance is parallel to one
of the Coalitions key objectives- to encourage people to participate
in policy formulation and implementation.
In conclusion, the
Coalition calls upon all political parties to be people oriented first,
thus serve Zimbabwe first before appeasing egos or political entities.
It is our observation that the people of Zimbabwe are plunged intensely
in poverty.
A very reasonable
and responsible government will not merely promise, but deliver food,
medicine and water to the millions of vulnerable people.
Issued by:
Dr Elizabeth Marunda
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Spokesperson
Visit
the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet
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