News / National
Zimbabwe's smaller political parties cry foul over constitution making process
08 Jun 2011 at 13:14hrs | Views
SMALL political outside the inclusive government have written to the Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) expressing dissatisfaction over their systematic exclusion in the Copac led constitution making process.
The parties – Zapu FP led by Sikhumbuzo Dube, Zapu led by Agrippa Madlela , Zanu Ndonga and the African National Party (ANP) led by Egypt Dzinemunenzwa have said they view their continued reference as "civic society" by the is wrong in that it excludes the church and the real civic society.
Copac co-chair person Munyaradzi Mangwana acknowledged receipt of the memo and said the co-chairs are yet to meet with the management committee to discuss the way forward regarding the four political parties' proposal.
"We are yet to meet over that as co-chairs and the management committee,' he said in part.
They have also argued that at no point in time did "they ever claim" to be representing the civic society and Copac and MDC T, MDC and Zanu PF have continued to lie about theur status during their deliberations with the funders of the process.
In a memo written to the Copac co-chairpersons and copied to the main donor UNDP - leaked to ZimScribes, the four political parties have suggested that they be consulted and allowed to make recommendations of representatives for the oncoming drafting stage arguing that the process will lack credibility if only the three main political parties MDC, MDC T and Zanu PF go it alone.
"Secondly , we feel strongly that it will be unfair for Zimbabwe as a whole after the Outreach and Thematic Stages, only three political parties in the government are left to draft a constitution of their own," wrote the political parties.
The parties also warned that the drafters must know that they are under watch.
It is important for Drafters to know that they are being watched. The Observers also become a fall back point in future as they will be able to give an objective analysis; after all it is civic society that will be able to campaign directly and indirectly for the new constitution.
Copac is struggling to finish the thematic committee stage after instructing political parties to send home some dull representatives who could not operate computers.
After downsizing, the process flowed but some thematic committees have not finished forcing the programme to be extended for an unknown period.
The next stage is the drafting stage after which the second all stakeholders' conference and referendum will follow.
BELOW WE PUBLISH THE MEMO AS IT IS……
MEMORANDUM
TO: COPAC CO-CHAIRPERSONS
CC: UNDP, COPAC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN ALL STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE
FROM: POLITICAL PARTIES OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT (LABELLED CIVIC SOCIETY)
DATE: 31st MAY 2011
RE: UPDATE VIS-À-VIS THEMATIC AND DRAFTING STAGES
We find it prudent that we continue to express our sentiments about the current Thematic Stage and also indicate how we feel about the pending Drafting Stage.
Firstly, we shall continue to engage UNDP as a follow-up to our memo enclosed, dated 21st May. The memo is a follow-up to the one we wrote to you.
Secondly, we strongly feel that it would be unfair for Zimbabwe as a whole that after the Outreach and Thematic Stages, only the three parties in government are left to draft the constitution on their own. Our humble proposals in all fairness are as follows:
a) The composition of the three-some remains as already agreed.
b) An Observer Group (OG), along the lines of the Speaker's Gallery should be created where each political party chooses or seconds two representatives.
c) Although we do not claim to represent civic society, it would be wise to include representatives of church umbrella organizations and other civic groupings as part of the OG.
The OG is critical to the success of the constitution making process. The Group will be an answer to inclusivity, participation and transparency.
It is important for Drafters to know that they are being watched. The Observers also become a fall back point in future as they will be able to give an objective analysis; after all it is civic society that will be able to campaign directly and indirectly for the new constitution.
Yes, funding is an issue but it is worth the effort. We are prepared to discuss the issue to some detail. The proposals can even be modified as you see fit.
We are totally committed to work with COPAC to ensure a people driven Constitution is produced.
We the undersigned Political Parties Representatives:
The parties – Zapu FP led by Sikhumbuzo Dube, Zapu led by Agrippa Madlela , Zanu Ndonga and the African National Party (ANP) led by Egypt Dzinemunenzwa have said they view their continued reference as "civic society" by the is wrong in that it excludes the church and the real civic society.
Copac co-chair person Munyaradzi Mangwana acknowledged receipt of the memo and said the co-chairs are yet to meet with the management committee to discuss the way forward regarding the four political parties' proposal.
"We are yet to meet over that as co-chairs and the management committee,' he said in part.
They have also argued that at no point in time did "they ever claim" to be representing the civic society and Copac and MDC T, MDC and Zanu PF have continued to lie about theur status during their deliberations with the funders of the process.
In a memo written to the Copac co-chairpersons and copied to the main donor UNDP - leaked to ZimScribes, the four political parties have suggested that they be consulted and allowed to make recommendations of representatives for the oncoming drafting stage arguing that the process will lack credibility if only the three main political parties MDC, MDC T and Zanu PF go it alone.
"Secondly , we feel strongly that it will be unfair for Zimbabwe as a whole after the Outreach and Thematic Stages, only three political parties in the government are left to draft a constitution of their own," wrote the political parties.
The parties also warned that the drafters must know that they are under watch.
It is important for Drafters to know that they are being watched. The Observers also become a fall back point in future as they will be able to give an objective analysis; after all it is civic society that will be able to campaign directly and indirectly for the new constitution.
Copac is struggling to finish the thematic committee stage after instructing political parties to send home some dull representatives who could not operate computers.
After downsizing, the process flowed but some thematic committees have not finished forcing the programme to be extended for an unknown period.
The next stage is the drafting stage after which the second all stakeholders' conference and referendum will follow.
BELOW WE PUBLISH THE MEMO AS IT IS……
MEMORANDUM
TO: COPAC CO-CHAIRPERSONS
CC: UNDP, COPAC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN ALL STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE
FROM: POLITICAL PARTIES OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT (LABELLED CIVIC SOCIETY)
DATE: 31st MAY 2011
RE: UPDATE VIS-À-VIS THEMATIC AND DRAFTING STAGES
We find it prudent that we continue to express our sentiments about the current Thematic Stage and also indicate how we feel about the pending Drafting Stage.
Firstly, we shall continue to engage UNDP as a follow-up to our memo enclosed, dated 21st May. The memo is a follow-up to the one we wrote to you.
Secondly, we strongly feel that it would be unfair for Zimbabwe as a whole that after the Outreach and Thematic Stages, only the three parties in government are left to draft the constitution on their own. Our humble proposals in all fairness are as follows:
a) The composition of the three-some remains as already agreed.
b) An Observer Group (OG), along the lines of the Speaker's Gallery should be created where each political party chooses or seconds two representatives.
c) Although we do not claim to represent civic society, it would be wise to include representatives of church umbrella organizations and other civic groupings as part of the OG.
The OG is critical to the success of the constitution making process. The Group will be an answer to inclusivity, participation and transparency.
It is important for Drafters to know that they are being watched. The Observers also become a fall back point in future as they will be able to give an objective analysis; after all it is civic society that will be able to campaign directly and indirectly for the new constitution.
Yes, funding is an issue but it is worth the effort. We are prepared to discuss the issue to some detail. The proposals can even be modified as you see fit.
We are totally committed to work with COPAC to ensure a people driven Constitution is produced.
We the undersigned Political Parties Representatives:
Source - Zimscribes
