NCA courts civic groups for 'No' vote

The National Constitutional Assembly has courted the support of peripheral labour organisations and civic groups in its bid to campaign for a "NO" vote against the draft constitution in the referendum slated for March 16 this year.

According to a report entitled  The Zimbabwe Copac Draft Constitution and what it mean for Working People and Democracy authorised by former MDC-T Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisai, over 25 groups will oppose the Copac draft.

The groups include 12 trade union organisations, six social movement groups, four students' movements and three other groups joined hands with the NCA to mobilise for a "NO" vote.

Meanwhile, NCA chairperson Lovemore Madhuku has described as "nonsense" and "meaningless" the move by the inclusive government to hold a referendum on the draft constitution in 4 weeks, saying it have insufficient time for people to study the documents.

Partisan politics has marred the ongoing voter registration exercise countrywide with reports from civil society groups and MDC-T officials in Manicaland, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland alleging that village heads and various registration offices are prohibiting people from registering to vote on the basis of their political affiliation.