Draft constitution makes Zimbabwe racist state

Zimbabwe's draft constitution has finally been birthed - after an excruciating process of negotiation and compromise - and it is a poor specimen. People are already taking positions for and against.

The problem is that, within the next few months, we will be asked to vote yes or no on this document. If Zanu-PF has its way, we will have to vote for the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) draft or a Zanu-PF draft. If this is the case, we urge the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to come up with its own draft - without all the ghastly compromises that it has been forced to accept in the Copac draft.

The Lancaster House constitution was a ceasefire document - and so is this Copac draft.

In no way can it be described as a major pillar in the democratic transformation of Zimbabwe.

But it is way ahead of the much-amended Lancaster House document. It provides for stronger institutions that will enable essential checks and balances, especially on the executive. These institutions include a parliament capacitated to force greater accountability on the part of the presidency, independent commissions and a national authority to co-ordinate prosecutions.

In contains a mechanism specifically focusing on gender, with a view to bringing about social, economic and political equity. For the women, this will be in addition to provisions that will enable their increased participation and presence in the legislature.

There is also a marked improvement regarding the contentious issue of citizenship - with the new charter bringing solace to hitherto ''stateless citizens''. Even war veterans have a reason to smile, as the new document directly recognises their contributions towards national independence and seeks to ensure that their welfare is safeguarded.

However, the Copac draft contains serious flaws - notably that it enshrines racism. We are now officially a racist state where people will be discriminated against on the basis of their skin colour. In other words: reverse apartheid. This is, of course, unacceptable.

The removal of property rights is another serious flaw. Under the Copac draft, all those farmers who were dispossessed of their land, including blacks, during the land "resettlement" programme will have no recourse to law to seek compensation or to get justice. This is an abrogation of a fundamental human right.

We are convinced that the majority of decent Zimbabweans will find this clause offensive. In addition, the Copac draft does not sufficiently limit the powers of the president.

All this puts us in a very difficult position. If we vote against the Copac draft we run the risk of Zanu-PF claiming victory for their constitution. Analysts argue that if we reject it we run the risk of going back to the darkest days of Zanu-PF dictatorship.

Those in favour of a "yes" vote argue that the Copac draft will lead to free and fair elections, and once a government that truly represents the people is in power, it can fix the areas of contention. But, for many, this may be a leap of faith too far.

Wilf Mbanga

Editor: The Zimbabwean