Zimbabwe Ready for National Constitutional Referendum

Leadership of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriot Front (ZANU-PF). The country is anticipating a national election later in 2013., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Zim ready for referendum

Tuesday, 05 March 2013 00:00
Hebert Zharare and Isdore Guvamombe
Zimbabwe Herald

THE majority of Zimbabweans, even from the remotest places in the country, say they are aware of the Constitutional Referendum slated for next week, even without having sight of the document.

While Copac is battling financial problems to print enough copies, coupled with distribution logistics, the mainstream political parties seem to be far ahead, after using their structures to communicate their position for a “Yes” Vote.

Many people might not have seen the draft constitution but are, so far, going by the decision of their political parties, which have been able to use their structures to communicate the message.

Copac has embarked on a programme to mobilise the people to vote “Yes” during the March 16 referendum and several meetings have been scheduled for 147 centres nationwide.

Very few ordinary people have had sight of the document, although it is envisaged that Copac will have covered the whole country, in terms of distributing the 90 000 copies it has so far printed.

In some instances, a ward, which has more than 600 families, was allocated a single document to share.

Some schools did not get a single document.

Such was the situation in many schools and their surrounding areas in Centenary, Muzarabani, Rushinga, Mt Darwin, Guruve, Karoi, Magunje, Mola, Msampakaluma, Rukomichi, Chundu, Kazangarare, Mbire and Mashumbi Pools, Chirundu and Kariba, among other places.

“We know we are going to vote ‘Yes’ on March 16 as directed by our party.

“We are taking direction from there.

“We might or might not see the document but we know where to vote because our party told us. It would be good to see the document but even if we fail to see it, our party structures have explained to us what is there and that it is good for us,’’ says Isaiah Kadifura of Mutota ward in Mbire.

“Of course, we are going to vote ‘Yes’. We are told Copac has no money but you see, if they had printed many copies and sold them, even for a dollar, we would buy. This is a historical document and we must have it but what can we do if Copac is not that innovative?

“We can buy copies if there is anywhere they are sold. We had a copy at our school but we have no photocopying facilities within a 50km radius.

“Everyone is going to read it from there and only reading for 20 minutes.

“We have tried group reading but we have an English version and translating for our villagers is quite another issue,’’ said Morton Jangwe of Chimhanda in Rushinga.

Although villagers and residents of smaller towns decried the inadequate supply of copies of the draft constitution, parties in the inclusive Government should be commended for using grassroots structures to mobilise the people.

The villagers professed ignorance of anyone pushing for a “No” vote ahead of the crucial poll.

Speaking to The Herald on Saturday, Mr Forget Karikudenga from Ketsanga Village in Kazangare, said many people were aware of the impending plebiscite through publicity materials in newspapers and on radio.

“However, the major problem is most of the materials we are accessing are through the Press and radio. This time we are receiving Radio Zimbabwe but the challenge is how many people …Our old mothers cannot understand something in English,” he said.

Copac has printed 90 000 copies of the draft constitution and 20 000 of them are in 10 vernacular languages.

At Magunje Growth Point most of the people said they were aware of the March 16 referendum, but argued the majority were likely to cast their ballots before seeing the draft constitution.

Said Mr Durai Mukono from Rukomichi who declined to disclose the name of his party; “This process is driven by political parties. We have already been advised it’s going to be a ‘Yes’ vote and that is it.

“However, our problem is that some of the people might go to polls before seeing the draft constitution.”

However, some people, due to the nature of their employment, might miss a lot on national processes.

At Marongora Game Reserve some wardens who declined to be named for professional reasons, said; “We just hear about these things on radio and in newspapers, but we are always in the bush. I am not sure if we are going to be available during voting day.”

The referendum has generated a lot of interest from many people in different parts of the country.

At Chirundu Border Post a local primary school has been turned into a library as scores of residents come to read about five copies of the draft constitution that were left at the institution.

Said Mr Kennedy Sakurima, a clearing agent; “My friend snatched this copy from the school . . . that is how I managed to get it.

“People here are very much interested to know what is happening, but we do not see the Copac crew.”

The situation was the same in Kariba. Mr Simon Siansomba who was in Mola last week, said the parties were using structures to mobilise the people.

“The people here in Kariba and Mola where I come from are aware that voting is on March 16.

“However, they are saying the draft is not there,” he said.

In Matabeleland North, many people said they were aware of the referendum but complained of the absence of copies of the draft constitution.

“We have not received the copies but our party told us that we do not have to wait for the draft copy.

“What the party leadership has told us is enough at the moment because the party is good for us. It is our party and we trust it. Of course, who does not want a copy in his house?

“We all need the copy, even after voting,’’ said Luckmore Ncube of Lupota Business Centre.

Meanwhile, awareness campaigns to educate people on the provisions of the new constitution are likely to continue even after the new charter is endorsed by Zimbabweans at the referendum.