Jonathan Moyo

Zimbabwe Constitution -- A New Dawn or Self-Serving Compromise? Voice of Africa Radio

• Report rights infringement
• published: 23 Mar 2013
• views: 354

Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan On Saturday 16th March Zimbabweans went to the polls to vote on its new constitution, which if agreed will pave the way for elections later this year. The likelihood of a "yes" vote is high due to the endorsement of the three main parties - Zanu-PF, MDC-T (Tsvangirai) and MDC-N (Ncube). MDC MP for Bulawayo South, Eddie Cross is among those urging a "yes" vote: "The new national draft Constitution of Zimbabwe is 175 pages long. It is complex and was negotiated over nearly 4 years, 1 million people were consulted on the fundamental principles they wanted recognised in the Constitution. In the end not everyone got what they wanted and the final draft is a compromise, thrashed out between the three main political Parties." He goes on to list 10 reasons to vote yes. Also urging a yes vote is the campaign group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) that conducted 600 workshops on understanding the constitution for over 16,000 of its 85,000 members. WOZA had had a degree of success in getting its voice heard. 76 of its 72 demands were either included or partially acknowledged. However, not all are keen on the new constitution. Former Zanu-PF minister and current leader of Mavambo Kusile Dawn leader, Simba Makoni, Ray Majongwe of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation all advocate a "no" vote, with Majongwe and Gwisai going so far as to lead a united front of individuals and organisations to launch an appeal against referendum at the Supreme Court, claiming it doesn't represent any real change. Nevertheless, all estimations are that the poll will result in a "yes" vote. Although most parties ultimately regard the constitution as a compromise it does contain some key measures: · Enshrines the land reform programme and challenges against it · A bill of rights to protect free expression · Devolution to provincial authorities · Scrapping the president's power to veto legislation · Promotes gender balance in public office · Limits the presidential term of office to two five year terms This being Zimbabwe, Europe has a lot to say. The UK customarily lead the charge, via its ambassador to Zimbabwe Deborah Bronnert, by declaring that polls will only be free and fair if the country invites the European Union observer team. Former Minister of Information Professor Jonathan Moyo was swift in his rebuttal: "It may be the case that the EU has a credible reputation elsewhere, but it certainly does not have a credible reputation in Zimbabwe because it imposed illegal economic sanctions on Zimbabwe outside the international law and United Nations systems... No rational country can invite an enemy into the house."