Civil society in Zimbabwe is ”taking lessons from history” to chart a mass mobilisation campaign for a new Constitution that will target ruling party Zanu-PF’s traditional strongholds in the rural areas. The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has been tasked by labour, churches, students and human-rights groups with spearheading the drive, as it did President Robert Mugabe’s only defeat at the ballot box, in the 2 000 constitutional referendum.
”The liberation wars in Zimbabwe were fought by the peasants from 1893 to 1980. They were ordinary people like us and they won. Now it’s like a feeling of déjàvu, going back to the drawing board … a new Constitution will not fall from heaven or be given by the government, but fought for,” Lovemore Madhuku of the NCA told about 500 civic activists in Harare last weekend.
The civil society stance creates a dilemma for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has pledged its support to the ”mobilisation campaign” but is still undecided on whether to take part in the Senate elections.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the national press club on Tuesday that the elections — which stem from the 17th round of changes to Zimbabwe’s Constitution, signed into law two weeks ago — would take place in December.
He also indicated that the government would introduce another raft of constitutional amendments next month to harmonise the parliamentary and presidential elections. Speculation in Harare is that parliamentary elections, due in 2010, could be brought forward to run concurrently with the presidential poll in 2008.
Mugabe indicated this week that he intends vacating office then, but the 81-year-old leader, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, has vowed to remain active in politics.
Madhuku told the Mail & Guardian in response: ”The solution is not to remove the government, even the next government will replicate the same features of previous governments. [Rhodesian prime minister] Ian Smith fought hard to suppress democracy; he introduced laws to suppress any form of resistance, and Mugabe is doing the same thing.”
The civic conference, under the banner ”Deciding Zimbabwe’s Destiny”, reached consensus on the need to rally for a new Constitution, but differences emerged over strategy. ”Let’s resolve what mass action will look like after consulting the people out there first,” said one delegate.
”After consulting, what options will be available to bring about the new Constitution? That is the sticking point,” explained Margeret Chileya.
”Appealing to people’s conscience, inviting them to public gatherings or drumming out leaflets or other information will not necessarily lead to change. Public participation in our activities is what is vital,” cautioned Brian Kagoro of Action Aid.
”Let’s give people food first, then we will have the capacity to mobilise them. Food should be an essential part of this process,” emphasised Elinor Sisulu of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
”The problem with Zimbabweans is that they don’t want to go on to the streets. If we say let’s go to the state house now, how many of us will go there. Let’s be honest with each other,” said a delegate from a women’s action group.
Another delegate took the floor to admonish his comrades. ”We are in cities and hotels; revolutions are never fought in hotels; we need to go back to the rural areas, that’s where the people are, and that’s where we belong.”
Murmurs of dissent greeted a speaker who insisted: ”Zanu PF is an important player, whether we like it or not. It should be engaged, otherwise we won’t achieve anything.”
In the end, everyone agreed that it is not going to be ”easy” and resolved ”that anything that defies the need for a new Constitution” should be rejected.