|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Constitution bulletin day 63 & 64
Zimbabwe Human
Rights Association (ZimRights)
September 13, 2010
Hon MP Douglas
Mwonzora co-chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee for
the constitution making process has confirmed that COPAC, with the
assistance of UNICEF funding, will conduct consultation meetings
strictly for children and youths. The meetings will be held on the
23rd and 24th of September. This group is receiving special treatment
together with people with special needs after their low participation
was noted in the public meetings that have been held so far.
Meanwhile, the
constitution consultation meeting held at Javara Primary School
in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central on 10 September was yet another
show of political battle.
Residents were
not able to exercise their right to express their desires for the
new constitution as they only parroted what they have been requested
to say by politicians, who want to protect their self interests.
For example, a participant requested that there be no land audit,
but could not give a reason for it. Another response which has become
popular among Zanu PF supporters is the 99-year lease for land ownership.
One said he wants it because it will enable people to borrow money
from the bank and the government will have the power to give them
and take land whenever it feels like it.
Besides saying
out the coached responses it was also clear that people are ignorant
of constitutional issues and have not received adequate civic education
on the constitution making. For thematic areas where they did not
get political coaching they would just say "Zviripo ndizvo
zvatinoda," meaning "we want the law to remain as it
is." These responses were on issues like the role or function
of the Auditor General, Attorney General and the public sector.
Visit the Zimbabwe
Human Rights Association (ZimRights) fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
