HARARE - Zimbabwe on Wednesday officially launches public hearings on a new Constitution in Harare, with the three principals in the inclusive government expected to make an address.
The public hearings are expected to resume in earnest on Saturday, with citizens expected to weigh in on a proposed new Constitution. Outreach teams are poised to hold meetings in each of the country's 1 957 wards.
Thd public hearings commence amid complaints from the Prime Minister's MDC party that its supporters were under siege from marauding Zanu (PF) militia especially in the countryside.
Seventy teams will be deployed countrywide Saturday to gather views and ideas that Zimbabweans wanted included in the new governance charter.
An official function has been planned for Harare Wednesday where the three principals to the Global Political Agreement (GPA), President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara are expected to speak at the launch.
All the three principals have collectively shown anxiety for the process to start in earnest.
Tsvangirai said: "The new people-driven Constitution is our birthright.The Constitution is an important document that should guarantee the people’s basic rights."
The public meetings have been sidetracked by partisan bickering, shameless scrounging for donor dollars and bogus non-issues.
The MDC said in a statement Tuesday its Midlands North provincial chairperson, Cephas Zimuti who was arrested on Sunday at Gokwe Centre, was released on Monday without any charge being brought against him.
"The police had earlier charged him on flimsy charges of mobilising MDC supporters to participate in the Constitution-making process," the statement said.
In Masvingo West, Masvingo province, an armed self-styled war veteran, Risiko Mutande on Sunday threatened MDC supporters with unspecified action if they attended a rally that was to be addressed by the MP for the constituency, Tachiona Mharadza on Constitutional issues. Mutande made the threats in the company of Zanu (PF) youths, the MDC said.
The public hearings are expected to last two months. Zimbabweans hope a new charter, replacing one inked in 1979 before independence from Britain, will strengthen the role of parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guaranteeing civil liberties and political and media freedom.
(C) Zimbabwe Reporter 2010
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