Parliamentary Monitor

A Weekly e-Newsletter Published by the Parliamentary Monitoring Trust of Zimbabwe 2 May, 2013. issue 2.8

Ordinary Voices Xtra-ordinary Impact The new constitution provides Zimbabwe with a blue print to look into the future of our country. The issue of presidential powers, terms of president, role of women, bill of rights were well articulated so I think thats the best way forward. However they is no constitution which is super and hence it is bound to amendments to suite the status quoA respondent to our survey question.
In this issue
What they said Village Observer Social Media Back Page 2 2 3 4

After the Referendum, What Do we Expect?

We posed the question: Going forward do you think the New

Constitution gives solutions to our political problems/ conflicts? And we got several and interesting observations. What
we observed from the people who responded and 56 of them included in this publication, is that the people of Zimbabwe may not be constitutional experts but they know what they want from those entrusted with upholding the constitution. The image above shows the responses , through a word cloud an it is evident that the people of Zimbabwe know the issues they want addressed. A casual look shows that the words which were consistent with respondents include Constitution, Power, Parties, President, Respect, Document, Political and constitutionalism.
Ipalamente yethu ilizwi lethu our parliament our voice paramende yedu izwi redu

The Bottom-line
Manipulation of the constitution must be criminalised to allow full respect of the constitution by everyone. Everyone should abide by the supreme law of the landa respondent to our survey question.
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an air of knowing all about our ways. They make suggestions, on how to make our life easier. They tell us we need more bridges. Matigari, my friend, has also been startled by the invasion of these cheats. Most in the village expected him to at least raise a finger and protest but he kept quiet. The villagers kept quiet. We all kept quiet. The politicians, have started doing lots of unnecessary things in the area. Kraalheads in the village have been given cellphones and suits. A footbridge has been constructed across a seasonal stream. This will help our children cross on the way to school. But I dont remember a day when our children failed to go to school because of a flooded river. More things are coming. They tell us, this is development. Then last week, Matigari said something that opened my eyes. When was the last time these lackeys were around? What special event, national was about to take place? What special event is about to take place? asked my friend, Matigari. His conclusion was that, our peace had been disturbed because the politicians were eyeing reelections. This is a

2 May, 2013. issue 2.8

The village, our village, is a peaceful place. Save for an occasional shout, maybe from the women calling each other to go to the well or the kraalheads messenger announcing a meeting. We hold our own theories, most of them aimed at giving explanations to things we do not understand. Most of us did not read big book that explain almost all events on earth. As such, we still believe putting on a red clothing item attracts lightening. These beliefs and theories are very much embedded in our thinking and everyday business. We also use basic pointers, like mist on the local hill, as a sign it will rain. A swallow presages rains. We are simple. Our piece has however been disturbed by the noise coming from politicians. They have invaded every space. The borehole, footbridge, church, business place and schools. They come in with

cycle Matigari said, which characterise our politics. For us in the village, political participation has been made seasonal. Actually we have been made to participate at the beck and call of the politicians, the same people we are supposed to be assessing. Elections should be one of the various ways of partaking in our politics but the politicians capitalise on our disinterestedness and make us take part on their terms. Elections should be a time to reward or punish them, but it is a time for them to tell us to give them another mandate to lie to us. Meanwhile, life in the village continues, children play at the new footbridge because the river has since dried up. The women continue to call each other towards sunset to go and fetch water. The kraalheads messenger continues to move around the village calling for meetings. The kraalhead cannot use his cellphone because we do not have the gadgets. And one woman summed it last week when she said, If we had been consulted, we would have wanted a borehole which we use daily than a footbridge where there is no river.

We are talking to power, hope it listens

This week we continue with the views expressed by respondents to our survey. We have chirped 56 from the block and we strongly believe that they represent the general thinking among respondents whom we also believe are a representative sample of the voting population in Zimbabwe. It is very evident that Zimbabweans know what the constitution making process, with all its flaws, meant. As Zimbabweans we have seized this as a moment to redefine how we do our politics. It is clear from the responses that some of the respondents have become pessimistic about how we respect the constitution which can be attributed to our past. Going forward, it is clear that as Zimbabweans we want a Rule of Law, Constitutionalism, Checks and Balances on Power. We have placed so much faith in the new document and it is our belief that the leaders, current and those to come, would be rational enough to listen to what the people want. As Zimbabweans we are so much eager to see this process come to finalization. We know that the few processes left would be in the hands of Parliamentarians whom we take to be reasonable enough not to go against the will of the 3 million plus people who gave the constitution a thumps up.

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Virtual Public Gallery .

Using Social Media to Monitor Parly

PMTZs facebook group Parliamentary Monitor is an interactive virtual public gallery where instead of being spectators, citizens raise issues and seek solutions. As part of the integration of the social media platform and this e newsletter, we take excerpts of some of the posts on the facebook group and share with others.
After the referendum we asked, through a survey, the question: 11. it doesnt give solutions to our political problems/conflicts.it focuses on dealing with individuals and not national goals and prospects. 12. not really ,a constitution is just a piece of paper. 13. The constitution is fine but the leadership does not follow what is in the constitution and this is where the problem lies. Political leaders are too greedy and forget the general population. They keep everyone poor while a minority is stinking rich so this defeats the purpose of the constitution success. 14. I don't think it solves the problems we have currently because the president of the country still have too much power with him, Never trust a man with power. 15. Not as long as we do not practice constitutionalism. Which is the case right now. 16. no because the constitution does not mean anything if we don't implement its statues. 17. Not real because very few of our countrymen really know what it entails. 18. Yes it does. The introduction of proportional representation will reduce the incidences of political violence in the sense that there will be no individual campaigns but organizational campaigns for those proportionally represented seats. 19. No, still too much power is vested in the executive president and as such dilutes everything else the proponents mat think is positive. the problem we have is having too much power in an individual who then acts as a god, with appointed demi-gods 20. NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THERE IS NO RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW, THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER WHICH CAN BE DISCARDED AS IN THE PAST 21. Devolution, yes. But implementation will always be our achiles heel. 22. if it is being followed properly without protecting others 23. No, i dont think so. The leaders of political parties are responsible for our problems. 24. our era and generation maybe satisfied but someday things like presidential executive powers should be clipped because they idolise "godise" the president as it gives the president to do as he wishes 25. its not to say it gives solution but that its a step into the right direction as compared to the one we had. 26. Its a starting point. Constitutions evolve over time to meet the needs of people 27. Yes it promotes co-existence amongst zimbabweans. 28. i think it is broder...but. there are some chapters which needs to be clarrified...id give it 50% 29. i don't think so- the problem is Mugabe's penchant for power 30. No.there is no equality before the law between zpf and the mdc.voter registration in favour if zpf is high versus mdc perceived voters 31. yes! Because, we ar th authors of ths constitution. Many of us were js sailing wthout direction including me. Th former const ws tampered to suit personal desires. Had it remained unchanged, it ws goin to be sour evn to thoz who amended it in case th othr party ruled. Now tht th former ruling party so th possibilit of lozing power, i it hs cme aboard for fearing to b victims of their amendments by th oth gvt. Its unfortunat tht many ppl ddnt go thru th const fo various reasons, bt it empowers citizens and not individuals. 32. the new constitution provides zimbabwe with a blue print to look into the future of our country.the issue of presidential powers,terms of president,role of women,bill of rights were well anticulated so i think thats the best way forward.however they is no constitution which is super and hence it is bound to amendments to suite the status quo 33. The costitution is the boundery no one wil cross the agreed rules which we 'members of the Feedback? info@pmtz.org

Going forward do you think the New Constitution gives solutions to our political problems/conflicts?
1. Yes and No. some issues have been deferred for ten years. we also need to respect the constitution. Constitutionalism 2. Astep forward 3. yes its a better document but not the best 4. Its a starting point for national order ,healing and political depolirisation , i wouldnt say its a solution bt it provides a framework of guiding principles which may be fundamental in providing checks and balances towards implementation of measures aimed at solving our political problems.. WHAT MATTERS IS LEADERS HONOURING THE DOCUMENT CONTENTS 5. Truth be told, i never read the document. 6. Not in major way as this is an issue of policies that the Government in power at that time would implement, however it does provide a fair playing field and more transparent systems. 7. I dnnt think it provides solutions as long as zanu pf controls the levers of power.I think to do with the application of the rule of law will not be observed because the security sector would still work under instruction from zanu and the forces have abandoned their love for zanu and thus they will remain partisan in the discharge of their duties.Violence will return because it is zanu pfs trump card.Hate speech and access to the electronic media will not be offered to the other players. 8. We have to wait and see, otherwise, if ti is given a chance it can solve many of our problems,eg good governance 9. That is if it is used because there are some who seems to be above it. 10. Yes. It provides a democratic framework which will be a good starting point for the resolution of our problems.

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pulbic' implemented; the old constitution were based on what those who killed pple; they were all protected 34. No Still Human Rights Fighters are arrested for fighting the good fight 35. It should because all parties were agreable 36. There i lot of work that still needs to be done, our problems are constitutional but political 37. To an extent, as this depends on the politicians respecting the constitution. 38. Yes if security forces abide by the law and ellectroral reforms put in place,on media,police stop arresting mdc-t officials , supporters and civic organisations 39. It looks very feasible, but political will must be demonstrates by all parties. At least the new constitution brings hope and creates a starting point. Manipulation of the constitution must be criminilised to allow full respect of the constitution by everyone. Everyone should abide by the supreme law of the land. 40. To same extent 41. To an extent it does by setting aside the Lancaster document on which the dictatorship was built, it gives those akin to impunity a lot to think about before they act. The persecution of Mtetwa might be their last feast. 42. It doesn't,it was a negotiated constitution among the 3 political parties of which a constitution shld b pple driven. 43. Only when constitutionalism is upheld. For as long as we have uneven political playing field, the constitution becomes another aspiration document. 44. Not at all. It is an issue of attitude. To me it is just a paper guiding those in office for it is a document usually designed to

benefit the rulers than the ruled. For it simply has stamped the policy of one political party and somehow sang songs of an imaginative state wished by all humanity. I see it as being a divisive rather than unifying paper as it favours the female side to a large extent. I see it producing rather a careless, unloving and disrespectful society. I voted just to have the current kind of government to come to an end. It gives us space to do things by ourselves without interference of external 'failing' and 'disappointing states/nations' 45. no ..president with sweeping powers ..week institutions..vague bill of rights on some areas 46. No, it's clear that the powers that be will behave with impunity regardless of the letter of the law 47. no, but its one step towards democracy 48. Am inclined to think so. But based on the fact that we did have a constitution, before this new one came, it's hard to tell. For example, does the old or current constitution allow for the massive corruption we are seeing in the police etc? I don't think in Zimbabwe it's a matter of the constitution but a matter of how closely we follow that consitution 49. The new Constitution is a good basis for creating strong institutions. The follow-up legislative process needs to be robust and consultative. 50. yes some, devolution of power, and the limit of presidential terms. 51. Executive powers vested in the presidency present a sever challenge to Zimbabwean society. 52. Yes 53. Well yap l think it will,bt still Mugabe got a lot of powers,they should trimmed

them a lil bit,and the death penalty its not good 54. It was suppose to give solutions to our political problems but i don't see it happening any time soon because some political parties doesn't respect the will of the people , why the arrests of MDC members in prime ministers office , why the arrests of human rights defender Beatrice Mtetwa while she is conducting her work , why searching the prime ministers office without a warrant did they ever searched the president's office that is disrespect at it's highest level , i doubt if they can respect the new constitution , we still have a long way to go . 55. The constitution is a work-inprogress. It's not 100% but the most important element is creating a conducive environment so that reforms can take place. 56. No not at all. Just look at happened with Beatrice Mtetwa and them the very next day.

Who may register as a voter? You may register as a voter if you are a citizen of Zimbabwe and 18 years of age or over. If you wish to register on a constituency roll you must be resident in that constituency. Source: Zimbabwe Commission Electoral

Madisnyongoro of the Week

The media has a function in every society. Most media practitioners, occupy a privileged role and access leaders in societies. It is mainly because of this role that the public believes what the media tells them. Equally important is the watchdog and agenda setting roles of the media. However, our media has evolved into mouthpieces of political parties, conveyors of party slogans and an uncritical reportage. For this, the media becomes our Madisnyongoro of the week.

PMT Zimbabwe promotes openness, active participation, debate, engagement and respects divergence of views. In view of this, PMT Zimbabwe encourages the posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on its site and facebook page. However, these postings do not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein. In some extreme circumstances, our monitoring team may be compelled to pull down or delete offending postings. www.pmtz.org / info@pmtz.org/ http://www.facebook.com/groups/parlymonitor

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