ZZICOMP (ZESN, ZPP and ZLHR Independent Constitution Monitoring Project), a collaborative project between ZESN, ZLHR and ZPP, launched their ‘Final Report: Shadowing the Constitution Outreach Process’. ZZICOMP’s goal is to monitor, observe and report on the work of the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (COPAC), the public outreach programme, the work of the Thematic Committees and the Drafting Committee, and the final document produced in order to adjudge how democratic and the transparent the constitution making process is and if it accurately reflects the input of broad and diverse popular participation.

420 mobile monitors who were accredited by COPAC observed 4 533 outreach meetings in the 210 constituencies of the country. The monitors and recorded the proceedings including the atmosphere, pre-meeting events and the view expressed by citizens. The observers reported the efforts made by COPAC teams to remain impartial in the process; however they also observed coaching of the public by political parties. The mobile monitors also reported incidence of violence and intimidation especially in the Mashonaland provinces.

Among the findings in the report:
-There was equal participation in the constitution making process by both men and women
-By the end of the programme a cumulative total of 716 340 participants had been recorded with monthly attendances of 7% in June, 21% in July, 28% in August, 42% in September and 2% in October
-Adults accounted for 79% of the total number of participants
-There was a disturbing dearth of information about the outreach programme in most rural communities. The lack of information was worsened by COPACs tendency to rely on urban-based media to communicate to the public
-Political interference in the COPAC process was omnipresent accounting for 28% of the total number of violations. Observers noted the most common techniques being: chanting of political slogans, singing of political songs, bussing in of participants, organising participants along party lines, using opening prayers to express party positions on the constitution.
-State media coverage on the outreach consultations remained heavily partisan and skewed towards one political party, ZANU PF.

In the report’s conclusion ZZICOMP noted that:

the operational framework for constitutional outreach consultations was inhospitable to open debate. At most meetings in both rural and urban areas, debate was generally subdued, with the outreach process under the control of various political parties. Although MDC-T presence was visible at most venues, overall, ZANU PF appeared to be more dominant and even dictated the content of most proposals.

US Embassy Public Affairs Section:
Our office is considering candidates for the Fortune 500/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, a mentoring program for emerging women leaders from around the world, scheduled for April 29 through May 24, 2012.  Applicants must be women between the ages of 25 and 43 who are likely to reach the top levels of their business or NGO sector.  To receive a copy of the application form please email us on hararepas [at] state [dot] gov

Executive Director: Health Related Non Profit Making Organisation
Deadline: 14 December 2011

Reporting to the Board

The Executive Director reports to the Board and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission. To the Board and Membership:

1.Assist the Board in the development and implementation of long-term strategies, goals and objectives for the organization

2.Implement all policies, programs and other directives laid down by the Board

3.Maintain official records and documents, and ensure organization’s compliance with all laws and regulations.

4.Ability to source funding for the organization

5.Coordinate the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.

6.Publicize the activities of the organization, its programs and goals.

7.Coordinating relation of the organisations with donors and other organisations

Qualifications, skills and experience

-Degree in Health or Social Sciences, preferably a master’s degree

-At least 5 years experience in NGO environment at a managerial/senior decision-making level

-Experience and facility in proposal and report writing

-Ability to effectively direct activities of subordinates and meet deadlines

-Commitment to human rights

-High level of computer literacy

-Appreciation of Human Rights issues

The deadline for receiving applications is the 14th of December 2011. Package will be released to short listed candidates.

Send applications to newEDpostzw@gmail.com

It is a trait peculiar to politicians that evidence of abject poverty does not prick consciences in pursuit of their own happiness. The opulence flaunted by monarchs pales into insignificance when one recalls that monarchs are born blue bloods while politicians claim their wealth to election into public office ostensibly by claimed popular vote. Thus one has to think deep and taste the mood of very ordinary folks each time Zanu PF gets down to boogie in their annual shindigs. It is that time when the party that has claimed perpetual bankruptcy – both moral and financial – has its staunch loyalists lining up to make stupendous donations towards the hosting of these conferences. I have heard folks ask the moral philosophy questions such as why it has been found apt to give so generously to the party when constituencies claimed by the donor wallow in abject poverty, where that kind of wealth comes from, yet it also known how since independence, the line between party and the state has been blurred as Zanu PF used state resources as if they were their own.  And while other Zimbabweans curse, it has been baffling that other equally ordinary folks have taken these shindigs with such gusto reminiscent of the 1980 independence euphoria.

Saw some young men and women last weekend milling outside the Zanu PF offices in Bulawayo and a friend quipped: “do these people really believe in what they are doing?” But then it was a question that has been answered before: “as long sisidla” – “as long as we are we eating” – (getting something from Zanu PF). It has become one huge farce that young people thrown into the ranks of loafing by bad governance and “voodoo” economic policies can still proudly hold their heads up and claim their place within the party machinery, when at the same time they are not at it because they believe in anything it stands for but rather like vultures wanting to pounce and reap where they did not sow.

Every amoral young person who wants to be an instant money-bag and own a small mining claim knows they simply have to extol the virtues of Savior (some name huh?) Kasukuwere and they got it made. Forget hard work, forget scruples, coz these are virtues that do not apply here! What then are these young lions being bequeathed as a legacy they will one day have to pass on to other young lions? Should we start worrying then that Zimbabwe will have an unending cycle of bad people coming and going, seeing that any hopes of an MDC-T political dispensation remain but a mirage on the horizon?

At the MPOI event on Thursday, 24 Nov 2011. Four speakers on “2011 in Retrospect And A Prognosis For 2012”. Lots of interesting stuff, and they all droned on and on as they will do!

But what got me sitting upright was the Zanu PF speaker – Goodson Nguni. He did not speak as a Zanu PF spokesman, but as a staunch Zanu PFer. And what he said held my interest.

“We love democracy, but we love Zimbabwe more than we love democracy.”

Now what does this mean? He explained, and I understood, that democracy is all well and good but Zanu PF intends to retain a grip on Zimbabwe even if democracy – that is, the will of the people (of Zimbabwe) – tells them to let go. So democracy cannot unseat them. They will retain power … just because. They believe they know what Zimbabwe wants better than Zimbabweans. They believe they know what is better for Zimbabwe than Zimbabweans do. They believe they own Zimbabwe. They believe Zimbabwe is them.

Which basically means they are not democrats. They do not believe in democracy.

All the people who died for the right to vote were actually dying to put Zanu PF in power. Not for democracy.

He further stated “the war vets did not fight for elections, they fought for the end of Rhodesia.”

So, help me. Is my understanding of what he said correct?

And is this not what Gbagbo is being tried in The Hague for a this time? He lost the elections, and instead of stepping down (bowing to democracy), he unleashed a wave of violence, which resulted in many people being killed.

He loved Cote D’Ivoire more than he loved democracy.

The first-prize winner of this year’s International Day to End Impunity poster contest, Jamie Javier from the Philippines.