Maravi

(HERALD) Constitutional indaba begins

Constitutional indaba begins
By Zvamaida Murwira

ALL is set for today’s opening of the first all-stakeholders’ conference on the constitution-making process.

This is despite the chaos witnessed at the venue where accreditation of stakeholders was taking place at a snail’s pace, raising fears that some stakeholders might not be accredited in time for the conference which gets underway this morning.

At one stage accreditation forms ran out after less than 1 000 people had been registered for a conference at which 4 000 delegates are expected.

In an interview earlier, Parliamentary Select Committee co-chairperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said they had finalised the programme for the two-day conference.

He said President Mugabe would officially open the conference.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara are also expected to address the indaba.

Several speakers have been lined up to deliver speeches, said Mr Mwonzora.

These included the Speaker of House of Assembly, Mr Lovemore Moyo, who will deliver the welcome speech while select committee co-chairperson Cde Paul Mangwana is expected to give an overview of the conference as well as outline its objectives.

Women, Gender and Community Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena will then give a comparative analysis of the constitutions of various countries.

Mr Mwonzora will give an interpretive analysis of Article VI of the Global Political Agreement that mandates the Parliamentary Select Committee to complete the drafting of a new constitution within 18 months.

"Everything is on course; delegates are arriving and accreditation has started. President Mugabe will officially open the conference tomorrow (today)," said Mr Mwonzora.

Initially the conference was scheduled for last Friday and Saturday but the Parliamentary Select Committee conceded to Zanu-PF’s concerns that the timing was poor.

Zanu-PF lawmakers said they needed more time to mobilise stakeholders from their constituencies and to explain to them the relevance of the conference.

Others had also argued that the all-stakeholders’ conference should not be held at the same time as the international investment conference, which President Mugabe officially opened on Thursday. It ended on Friday afternoon.

Political parties will be the largest group at the conference with 1 600 delegates, followed by religious organisations (400), non-governmental organisations (320) and women’s organisations and freedom fighters, with 240 representatives each.

Other stakeholders include labour, youth groups and students, farmers, business, the disabled, traditional leaders, ratepayers and Government arms.

However, the accreditation process started late after the photographers tasked with taking accreditation pictures only arrived at around 11am when stakeholders were already restless.

There was shoving and pushing as ministers, Members of Parliament, chiefs and dignitaries were subjected to the "humiliation" of having to all stand in a single queue with students and aMuzarabani South Member of the House of Assembly Cde Edward Raradza, former Minister of Mines Cde Amos Midzi, Chipinge East MP Mathias Mlambo, some chiefs and Parliament srtaff were among those subjected to abuse.

Judging by yesterday’s situation, the conference organisers evidently underestimated the logistical headaches of convening such a big event.

Scores pf people could be seen leaving the accreditation venue in frustration without getting accredited.

Efforts by Parliament of Zimbabwe public relations manager Retired Major Edward Mbewe — who had to stand on a table to get attention — to appeal for order and calm were futile as his voice was drowned by the noise.

Media personnel were turned away with the accredition officials saying no provision had been made for journalists.

Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga said they would continue to work until all those entitled to take part in the indaba had been accredited.

"The secretariat has told me that they will be open until they clear the queue," he said.

"The secretariat has told me that they will be open until they clear the queue," he said.

The Clerk of Parliament’s representative to the select committee on constitution-making, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, echoed Minister Matinenga’s sentiments.

Despite the two putting on brave faces, the situation on the ground told a different story.

Some stakeholders said the organisers should have either started accreditation two days earlier or decentralised the process to provincial level well before Sunday.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:49 PM