That the constitutional reform exercise is the unity governments most important task that will decide its place in history as a failure or a success should be obvious to all except the politically brain-dead.
Without a new and truly democratic constitution, Zimbabwe cannot move forward. Forget talk of emergency recovery programmes whether short term or long term — they will never work until we fix the way we govern ourselves. But some in the coalition government either by design, crass ignorance or both clearly do not seem to grasp this basic fact.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail Zanu (PF)s chief representative in the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) Paul Munyaradzi Mangwana virtually sought to derail the constitutional reform process by announcing untruthfully that international donors had pulled the plug on the reforms. Mangwana claimed we really hope he was misquoted that donors had withdrawn financial support irked by the fact that they had failed to directly influence the project. It was simply a lie!
As we reported elsewhere in this issue, the international community remains willing to fund genuine democratic reforms in Zimbabwe, the process to write a new constitution included. If anything, donors only regret is the confusion and chaos shrouding the reforms and caused by the usual suspects. Now, we do not know why Mangwana chose to say what he said or who was the source of his information. But of one thing we are certain. Mangwanas Zanu (PF) party has never wanted genuine constitutional reforms in Zimbabwe for fear they will be humiliated in a democratic election held under a constitution guaranteeing human rights and the rule of law.
The only time Zanu (PF) attempted constitutional reforms in Zimbabwe in 1999/2000 they doctored the draft charter and people threw it back at them in the historic 2000 referendum. It appears this time they are determined to kill the reforms even before they begin. You must stop them!
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga