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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Referendum
is over, so what's next
Women's Institute for Leadership Development
March 19, 2013
An average number
of 2 million Zimbabweans voted in the peaceful
Constitutional Referendum on the 16th of March 2013 which was
considered a landmark in the history of the country. Although the
results have not been tallied, politicians are assured that most
of the voters voted "YES".
Speaking to
journalists soon after casting his vote in Highfield, His Excellency
Cde Mugabe said he was confident a majority of voters would endorse
the proposed new Constitution as it was people driven. Hon. Prime
Minister Tsvangirai also expressed his glee to journalists, saying
that the Referendum has afforded Zimbabweans a chance to define
their own destiny.
Although the
voter turnout was low, it may not likely reflect on the participation
for the Presidential elections. It is assumed that the public is
more interested in the General elections than the Referendum. Some
voters expressed that they were not motivated to vote in the Referendum,
but did so as an act of patriotism as their political parties insisted
that they do so. Women in number of areas were in the dark with
regards to the content of the Draft Constitution, and were heard
asking questions on what was in the draft but ironically were determined
to vote for it despite the fact that they did not know what they
were voting for.
In the past,
political parties have been seen using violence as a tool to get
votes from the masses. However, noting the peaceful manner in which
the Referendum was carried out, the non-violence stance taken by
the political parties would encourage more people to vote in the
future elections. Rita Makarau, the head of the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission said that voting largely went smoothly "with few
incidents" reported. Prince Guduza Dlamini of Swaziland (Leader
of the SADC Parliamentary Forum Referendum Observation Mission)
also said from observations that they made, the situation was peaceful
and most people appeared ready to participate in the Referendum.
He also noted a positive attitude with regard to the Referendum.
Women's participation
in elections in Zimbabwe for the past years has been deterred by
political violence. This year however, women were in the fore- front
and were actively participating more than men in most areas of Matabeleland
and Bulawayo. The SADC parliamentary Referendum observation mission
was heartened by the involvement of women and youth in conducting
voter education and Referendum campaigns. They also noted that there
were more women officials at polling stations than men. The appointment
of ZEC Chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau brings the total number
of women in ZEC leadership to five. This move is another landmark
worth recognising in women's empowerment agenda.
Justice Rita
Makarau said at a press conference in Harare yesterday, that "the
results of the Referendum shall be announced at 14:30 hours on the
19th of March." The Referendum is set to pave way for the upcoming
General Elections later this year and also see the dawn for a new
Constitution after the colonial Lancaster House Constitution of
1979 that perpetuated discrimination on women in Zimbabwe.
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