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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Inclusive government - Index of articles
Spotlight on inclusive government: It's not working - Index of articles
People
from Mhondoro Ngezi speak on the constitution
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
December 02, 2009
Crisis
Coalition in conjunction with ROHR Zimbabwe held a constitutional
meeting on Monday 1400 hours at Mamina growth point in Mhondoro
Ngezi, Mashonaland West province. More than 80 villagers attended
the meeting, including councilors from various wards. The meeting
is part of the ongoing meetings being held by Crisis Coalition to
stimulate debate around the envisaged constitution making process.
Resident Councilor
Frank Denhere from Ward 1 gave a splendid presentation on the various
constitutional thematic areas and he welcomed the opportunity for
Zimbabweans to write their own constitution as historic. "This
is an opportune moment to replace the Lancaster house constitution
which did not reflect the aspirations and wishes of the people of
Zimbabwe" said councilor Denhere.
He said a genuine people
driven constitution should protect the people's rights and
freedoms and not oppress them as reflected by the current constitution
which has been doctored/amended 19 times to bolster the stranglehold
on power by individuals against the people's expectations.
Farai Machaya from Crisis
coalition challenged the youth and women to seize this opportunity
to address their plight by making empowering inputs into the constitution
to address issues of gender parity, unemployment and gender violence
to name a few.
ROHR Zimbabwe
programs manager Clifford Hlatswayo advocated for the domestication
of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACPHR) in the impending
Zimbabwe constitution, the inalienable universality of human rights
and the formation of independent commissions that are free of political
interference to guard the people's fundamental human rights.
Hlatswayo also encouraged people to demand transparency and accountability
from elected public officials.
Critical issues raised
by the people
1) Sovereignty
of the people- The imposition of the Kariba
draft was vehemently denounced as undemocratic and an affront
to the people's responsibility of writing a constitution.
2) Separation
of powers- There should be clearly outlined demarcations on the
responsibilities of the three arms of state.
3) Judiciary-
Should strive for independence from government interference and
control, not a tool of oppression by those in power.
4) Equitable
distribution of state resources without discrimination on grounds
of political affiliation.
5) There should
be a stop to the rampant culture of looting and abuse of state resources.
6) Youth and
women empowerment
7) The Rule
of Law - As in the book "Animal Farm" by George Orwell
no animals are more equal than others and therefore everyone is
equal before the law. Only those who thrive in anarchy fear the
Rule of Law.
8) Uniformed
forces should carry out their duties professionally without discriminating
on partisan grounds guided by a cord of conduct that respects human
dignity. Allegations of torture among the police force should never
be tolerated and such acts of impunity should be punished severely.
Prominent businessman,
Fortune Mangwiro gave a vote of thanks. He said that Zimbabweans
have a lot to learn from the world's most celebrated democracies
during this time of transformation.
Visit the ROHR
fact
sheet
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