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Harare residents urged to participate in Copac meetings
Movement for Democratic Change
October 29, 2010

President Morgan Tsvangirai has urged the Harare residents to take part in the Constitution - making process that resumes in the capital city this weekend after being abandoned in September due to violence. The president was speaking before hundreds of MDC supporters at an MDC consultative meeting at Budiriro Community in Harare on Thursday evening.

The meetings which were launched two weeks ago at Mabvuku Hall in Harare, are meant to consult the people of Zimbabwe on the performance of the inclusive government, the flagrant disregard of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe, the Constitution - making process and the next year's election. "The Constitution - making process has been marred by violence, intimidation, bussing in of Zanu PF supporters and the disruption of some of these meetings especially in the rural areas and this has seriously tainted the whole process.

"However, I urge you all to attend the Copac meetings that resume in Harare this weekend. We want to go to elections next year with a new Constitution. After the winning that election then we will make sure that the country has a real people - driven Constitution with all your views and desires captured," he said. The last Copac meetings in Harare were aborted in September after Zanu PF bussed in its supporters from the rural areas. The rowdy Zanu PF supporters turned violent and disrupted the meetings in most parts of Harare.

The disturbances led to the death of one MDC member, Chrispen Mandizvidza after he was attacked at Mai Musodzi Hall where he had made a contribution. President Tsvangirai said the MDC was geared for the next elections but would fight to ensure that the process was peaceful, free and fair. "We want to have peacekeeping forces in place before and after the elections. We want to have SADC, AU and other international observers in country during the elections.

"The MDC is going to use its local, regional and international influence to make sure that this happens. These measures will ensure that the Zanu PF does not steal the 2011 elections like what it has been doing for the past ten years," President Tsvangirai said. Urging the people to register in order to be eligible to vote, President Tsvangirai assured Budiriro residents that the MDC would push for the people of foreign ancestry to be able to cast their votes in next.

"There is no way why these people should not be allowed to vote when most of them were born in this country. Even in South Africa, Zimbabweans are being given citizenship in that country," he said. He explained to the people that Zanu PF was trying to put pressure on the MDC to get out of the inclusive government by continuously abusing the GPA. "But we are not getting out as you the people informed us to form this inclusive government. We know that the inclusive government is not a permanent formation but a temporary one," said President Tsvangirai.

He said although the inclusive government was not performing as was expected, the arrangement had managed to resuscitate the pulse of the economy. "Schools and hospitals, which had collapsed have reopened. There is now food in the shops. Zanu PF had failed dismally in running the economy of this country due to corruption," he said.

Speaking at the same event, the MDC Secretary - General, Hon. Tendai Biti said the MDC had managed to fulfil most of the benchmarks set by the Party at its national congress in 2006. "These benchmarks include dragging Zanu PF to the negotiating table, having a new people - driven Constitution and reforming the Electoral and Media Acts," he said.

He also urged Harare residents to take part in the Copac meetings this week as this would bring real change to the country.

The president was accompanied by, Hon. Biti, the MDC Organising Secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri and his deputy, Hon. Morgen Komichi, the national spokesperson, Hon. Nelson Chamisa, Women Assembly chairperson, Hon. Theresa Makone, Harare provincial chairperson, Hon. Morgan Femai, MPs and the Harare provincial leadership.

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