Radio Dialogue Giving you a voice
Civic society organisations have openly declared support for the draft constitution saying they have begun mobilising support for the draft charter before the full implementation of the expected processes.
Giving solidarity speeches at the MDC-T’s 13th anniversary celebrations in Bulawayo, civic society organisations said the draft charter presents hope to ordinary Zimbabweans. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president George Nkiwane said the labour movement will endorse the draft constitution which has already been seconded by the two MDC formations.
“As a union, we clashed with the MDC-T over the constitution making process but we sat down and agreed that we were going to pass a judgement on the end product,” Nkiwane said.
“We finally met as the union’s general council last month and we agreed that the draft constitution is something that we can work with. We do appreciate that it can be improved but at the moment we are saying come referendum time we are going to vote yes.”
Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Samukeliso Khumalo speaking at the same occasion encouraged women to support the draft constitution. She said the document is better than any draft charter that has ever been produced.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) said it has already start mobilising Harare residents to support the draft constitution. A CHRA official in a solidarity speech presented at the MDC-T said it had taken a stand to ensure the draft constitution sails through.
Bulawayo Agenda chairman Royal Ntini also expressed that they are content with the draft constitution.
“We have consulted widely and we are strongly convinced that the people of Zimbabwe have unequivocally indicated that they are for devolution, we want to call upon you to enure that the wishes of the people should not be diluted anymore,” Ntini said.
The Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with coming up with a new constitution released a draft constitution which is expected to be tabled at a second stakeholders conference set for next month. Certain sections of civic society have come under fire for swallowing hook line and sinker the document which culminated from negotiations from the parties in the inclusive government.
The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai today marked the its13th anniversary.
