Journey to new constitution irreversible

The journey to a new people-driven Constitution is irreversible despite attempts by some retrogressive forces to derail the process, the co-chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee, Douglas Mwonzora has said.

Addressing 4 000 delegates at the first All Stakeholders Constitutional Conference in Harare, Mwonzora the MP for Nyanga North said the crafting of a new Constitution was apolitical. His remarks follow attempts by Zanu PF thugs to disrupt the conference on Monday.

Hundreds of hired Zanu PF thugs led by the party’s senior officials, Saviour Kasukuwere, Patrick Zhuwawo and Joseph Chinotimba on Monday violently disrupted the event.

“The road to a new Constitution is irreversible.  Zimbabwe is moving forward.  We are gathered here so that we make sure that the crafting of our Constitution gets started and there is no going back,” Mwonzora said, to a wild applause from the delegates.

He said the new Constitution would “finish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle and that Zimbabwe would never be a pariah state again. This process of coming with a new Constitution is more important than the Global Political Agreement, MDC and Zanu PF,” he said.

Speaking at the same conference, the Minister of Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs, Eric Matinenga assured the delegates that the government would provide all the requisite resources needed to make sure that the drafting of the document was smooth.

“As government we will also make sure that the people across the country feel free to say what they want in the outreach programmes,” he said.

Tuesday’s proceedings were peaceful as more police details were in place and barred those without invitation letters from entering the venue. Hundreds of Zanu PF youths were seen being turned away at the main entrance as they had apparently returned to the venue to cause more disturbances.

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