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MDC to deliver Zimbabweans to a new era through free and fair elections
Nelson Chamisa, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
September 21, 2007

Visit the special index of articles, analysis and opinion on Constitutional Amendment 18

MDC President, Morgan Tsvangirai, today met the 12 provincial chairpersons and executives at the party's headquarters in Harare and briefed them on the on-going dialogue between Zanu PF and the MDC which is being brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

President Tsvangirai took the opportunity to explain the decision to go along with the Constitutional Amendment No. 18 as a first step towards the final resolution of the national crisis.

Essentially, the events in Parliament around Constitutional Amendment No. 18 were informed by the following points already agreed to by the two parties. Amendments related to the Bill which had already been tabled by Zanu PF before the House include the following:

• The abolition of Presidential appointments in Parliament;
• A harmonized election for local government, parliament (House of Assembly and Senate) and the President taking place on a single day; and the reduction of a Presidential term to five years;
• A new voters roll, compiled by an independent electoral commission and not the Registrar General;
• The delimitation of constituencies done by the independent electoral commission.

The negotiating parties are still engaged in discussions to cover the following outstanding issues:

• The reform of the Electoral Act. Apart from the impediments currently in place because of this Act, a key issue for discussion shall be the need for Zimbabwe in Diaspora to vote and to participate in all elections; and all the matters related to Citizenship laws which disenfranchised millions of Zimbabweans (former farm workers and whites)
• Security laws: This aspect will cover the repeal of POSA and other repressive legislation that stifles the political environment and shrinks our political space;
• Media laws: AIPPA and a raft of broadcasting laws shall come under scrutiny in order for Zimbabweans to campaign freely and openly. The idea is to open up the entire media landscape;
• The role of security forces and the military in politics. Our negotiators shall examine the work of security forces, the secret service, Zanu PF militias and other agencies with regards to electoral processes.
• The use of food as a political weapon. The role of traditional leaders in an election process and the use of violence as an instrument of coercion particularly in rural areas.

President Tsvangirai explained that the reaction to the steps taken so far, understandably arises out of the people's mistrust of the Zanu PF dictatorship and lack of proper and full brief of the various stages in the negotiation process. The President urged all party organs and leaders to clarify, educate and inform Zimbabweans of the bold and correct decision the party has taken to locate the exit points to the political logjam.

We are confident that the party remains on the right track in the quest for a lasting solution to the national crisis. It is premature to judge the direction and outcome of the dialogue process based on the decision on Amendment No.18. The stage is only part of a series of other stages to follow in the context of a negotiated settlement under the aegis of SADC. It is unjust to judge a process on the basis of the preliminary stage. This is only but a first step to create an enabling environment for a speedy and holistic resolution to the crisis.

It is vital to recall that the MDC resolved at its second Congress in March 2006 to drag Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe though democratic resistance programmes to the negotiation table. Within a year, this objective has been achieved through a plethora of actions including those held in March where leaders were unfortunately assaulted. The people's resilience and collective action gave birth to the dialogue initiated by SADC at the extraordinary summit held in Dar es Salaam in March. Zanu PF grudgingly agreed to come to the negotiating table which was the first victory for the people of Zimbabwe.

Given the pace at which the talks are moving and the issues to be covered, the party is confident that it is only a matter of time before international election observers come to Zimbabwe, independent newspapers operate freely and journalists shall work without state hindrance and all Zimbabweans shall be able to vote freely and happily in all elections.

Our roadmap to legitimacy, whose main signposts are, among other issues, a negotiated solution and a people-driven Constitution leading to a free and fair election, is the guiding compass and central focus which informs our mission, decisions and actions. We are on course with regards to that roadmap. We are still at the negotiations stage for a new Constitution and free and fair elections.

We are committed to a people-driven Constitution. We are committed to a free and fair election. We are committed to a legitimate, and not a pre-determined electoral outcome.

We must, however, state that we shall achieve this through a two-stage process, given the matters that have arisen in the negotiations. We have passed the first hurdle and we believe the people of Zimbabwe shall have the opportunity to participate fully in a free and fair poll.

Our actions are motivated by the duty and obligation we have on our membership, supporters and Zimbabweans in general to deliver a new Zimbabwe. It is our mandate to eradicate the hopelessness, joblessness, hunger, shortages of basically everything and loss of dignity which have tragically become the character of a Zimbabwean life.

We want to assure our colleagues and partners in particular and Zimbabweans in general, that we remain loyal to our founding objectives of building a democratic and prosperous country premised on a new Constitution as the bedrock of a new order.

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