Opinion / Columnist
ZAPU and others in quandary
09 Aug 2012 at 05:25hrs | Views
ZAPU, NCA, MKD, MDC 99 and other organisations in a quandary.
The emerging scenario will most certainly put these organisations in a confusing and untenable position. It is quickly becoming obvious that the majority of organisations not in the government will overwhelmingly vote "NO", but not just 'no' but a big 'NO' against the Draft Constitution, which even the governing parties have dubbed imperfect.
The country is anxiously awaiting ZANU PF response or position, which will never be easy for ZANU PF to make. One scenario which is certainly bound to wrong-foot the aforementioned organisations is if ZANU PF does not endorse the draft constitution. The MDCs will quickly capitalise on this and label all these parties as ZANU PF projects. No organisation wants to be associated with ZANU, it the most painful insult to be associated with ZANU PF in anyway.
Therefore these parties and organisations will not want to be viewed or perceived as if taking sides with or supporting ZANU PF stance. This will present these organisations with one of the most difficult decisions to make and to transcend this big psychological battle.
No one in his properly functioning senses believes that this draft constitution meets the needs of Zimbabweans. In Zimbabwe the problems are deeply engrained in the structure and system of running the country. The draft constitution does not seek to correct this glaring anomaly, any party coming into power after the forthcoming elections through this constitution will just be replacing ZANU PF faces and nothing else.
My take though, is that in the end ZANU PF will endorse the draft constitution as it is, the basic reason behind this will be informed by a number of factors, chief among them is the acknowledgement by ZANU that the draft constitution does not go far enough to threaten their power base and other influencing factors will be the need to placate SADC and the international community, to portray themselves as co-operative and reasonable. ZANU PF knows that a constitution is just a piece of document which means nothing if not implemented, Zimbabwe has always had a constitution, and however, ZANU PF has never bothered to adhere to the principles and provisions of the constitution. For MDCs this draft constitution forms part of their election campaign strategy, whilst ZANU PF's election campaign strategy lies elsewhere.
MDCs have chosen to make quick decisions in endorsing the draft constitution, which they have both labelled imperfect, what really drives their decision is not the interests of the people at heart, however, they think that under this draft constitution they stand a good chance of electoral victory. This is basically what is wrong in any meaningful and well-meaning democracy to allow the political class to craft any important document such as the country's constitution, for they will reduce it to partisan political interests, which do not necessarily address the real issues.
If ZANU PF for any reason fails to endorse the draft constitution, of which I doubt, then I can foresee organisations like ZAPU, MDC 99, MKD, NCA etc changing their stance just to spite ZANU PF. If ZANU opposes the constitution what it means to many is that the constitution is a good one, but if ZANU pf endorses it what it means is that the constitution is rotten to the core. People have a view which says ZANU stands for everything against the people's interests and chances of progress in life.
The emerging scenario will most certainly put these organisations in a confusing and untenable position. It is quickly becoming obvious that the majority of organisations not in the government will overwhelmingly vote "NO", but not just 'no' but a big 'NO' against the Draft Constitution, which even the governing parties have dubbed imperfect.
The country is anxiously awaiting ZANU PF response or position, which will never be easy for ZANU PF to make. One scenario which is certainly bound to wrong-foot the aforementioned organisations is if ZANU PF does not endorse the draft constitution. The MDCs will quickly capitalise on this and label all these parties as ZANU PF projects. No organisation wants to be associated with ZANU, it the most painful insult to be associated with ZANU PF in anyway.
Therefore these parties and organisations will not want to be viewed or perceived as if taking sides with or supporting ZANU PF stance. This will present these organisations with one of the most difficult decisions to make and to transcend this big psychological battle.
No one in his properly functioning senses believes that this draft constitution meets the needs of Zimbabweans. In Zimbabwe the problems are deeply engrained in the structure and system of running the country. The draft constitution does not seek to correct this glaring anomaly, any party coming into power after the forthcoming elections through this constitution will just be replacing ZANU PF faces and nothing else.
My take though, is that in the end ZANU PF will endorse the draft constitution as it is, the basic reason behind this will be informed by a number of factors, chief among them is the acknowledgement by ZANU that the draft constitution does not go far enough to threaten their power base and other influencing factors will be the need to placate SADC and the international community, to portray themselves as co-operative and reasonable. ZANU PF knows that a constitution is just a piece of document which means nothing if not implemented, Zimbabwe has always had a constitution, and however, ZANU PF has never bothered to adhere to the principles and provisions of the constitution. For MDCs this draft constitution forms part of their election campaign strategy, whilst ZANU PF's election campaign strategy lies elsewhere.
MDCs have chosen to make quick decisions in endorsing the draft constitution, which they have both labelled imperfect, what really drives their decision is not the interests of the people at heart, however, they think that under this draft constitution they stand a good chance of electoral victory. This is basically what is wrong in any meaningful and well-meaning democracy to allow the political class to craft any important document such as the country's constitution, for they will reduce it to partisan political interests, which do not necessarily address the real issues.
If ZANU PF for any reason fails to endorse the draft constitution, of which I doubt, then I can foresee organisations like ZAPU, MDC 99, MKD, NCA etc changing their stance just to spite ZANU PF. If ZANU opposes the constitution what it means to many is that the constitution is a good one, but if ZANU pf endorses it what it means is that the constitution is rotten to the core. People have a view which says ZANU stands for everything against the people's interests and chances of progress in life.
Source - Thulani nkala
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