Civil Society constitutional convention reject use of Kariba draft

By Tichaona Sibanda
3 July 2009

The co-chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on constitutional reform, Douglas Mwonzora, on Friday said comments made by Robert Mugabe that the new constitution must be anchored on the Kariba Draft, were just a reflection of Mugabe’s personal view point.

Mwonzora told over 2,000 delegates attending the ‘2009 people’s constitutional convention’ that Mugabe’s views were not binding on the constitution-making process. During a question and answer session many delegates had voiced concern that Mugabe was imposing the Kariba draft on the people.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said Mwonzora’s speech triggered scenes of jubilation at the Rainbow Towers, venue of the convention. Over 234 civil society organisations from across the country are participating in the two-day convention. But the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions boycotted the ‘people’s’ constitutional convention, because of a split over the constitution-making process.

Last month Mugabe told his party’s central committee meeting that the new constitution must be anchored in the Kariba Draft, that was agreed to by ZANU PF and the two MDC formations on September 30, 2007. But civil society wants to ensure politicians do not have an undue influence on the process, and push their own agenda, at the expense of the people.

“Those were his own personal views targeted at a certain section of the society (ZANU PF), and they are not binding. Morgan Tsvangirai can equally do the same at an MDC meeting but his views will also not be binding to the constitutional reform process,” Mwonzora said.

He said all draft documents, including those produced by churches, the MDC, the National Constitutional Assembly and the Kariba draft, would be considered.

Consultative hearings on a new constitution began two weeks ago in the country’s 10 provinces, with officials explaining the constitutional review process to the public.

The hearings will culminate in an all-stakeholders’ national conference on July 10th, where committees will be selected to hear the views of the public about what they want included in the supreme national law. Up to 5,000 delegates will attend the conference in Harare next week Friday.