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Zimbabweans will decide whether to support or reject it.

Years of squabbling, and on-off progress threatened agreement between the three political parties — Zanu-PF, MDC and MDC-T but the recent breakthrough has started a debate among the politicians, lawmakers and the public on whether or not Zimbabweans should accept the draft. The three political parties are already calling on their supporters countrywide to vote “Yes” to the document but the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) is campaigning for its rejection.

Analysts don’t see promise in Dr Lovemore Madhuku’s solo campaign. They say his bankrupt organisation is unlikely to have the material and human resources to mount a strong campaign.

Nust lecturer Dr Lawton Hikwa ruled out a “No” vote.

“I can say primarily the document is people-driven.   The majority of people are expected to overwhelmingly vote ‘Yes’ to the draft constitution come referendum time. I don’t see any room for dissenting voices to succeed with their ‘No’ vote campaign. People now want progress in nation-building,” he said.

The constitution-making process has been an arduous and expensive exercise that gobbled about         $45 million.

The principals to the Global Political Agreement are now set to announce the dates of the referendum vote which will be followed by harmonised elections. The draft is being translated into different languages and copies will soon be made available to the public. A campaign would also be rolled out in both print and electronic media.

Mr Donald Sibanda, an industrial consultant based in Bulawayo, said people are likely to vote “Yes.”

“We need to build the nation and closed industries need to be re-opened,” he said.

“This constitution will open several opportunities  for development. Zimbabweans should vote ‘Yes’ for this draft constitution in order to support development in the country. A ‘No’ vote will retard development particularly to the closed and ailing industries. We need to progress as one nation,” he said.

Presenting the draft in the Lower House last week, Copac co-chair Mr Douglas Mwonzora said Zimbabwe should support the document that he said inculcates unity of purpose and peace across the political divide.

“It seems Zimbabwe is fast moving towards political tolerance and unity of purpose, after some haggling over the constitution-making process for more than three years. We have shown oneness and love amongst ourselves in the nation-building during the constitution-making process. One could not have distinguished between Zanu-PF and MDC-T,” said Mr Mwonzora.

Dr Madhuku who is the NCA chairman said the new draft constitution is flawed and not people-driven hence their call for a “No” vote.

“The draft is neither people-driven nor democratic and must be rejected,” he told journalists in Harare.

“In the next 10 years, if a president resigns or dies, there are no by-elections for the president.The country is given a president by the political party of the former president yet the people elect a person not a political party for president. This means if there are internal fights in the political party concerned, the country will have to go without a president until a political party sorts itself out,” he said.

Dr Madhuku has also criticised other provisions including increasing the number of MPs from 210        to 350, the death penalty which will not be imposed and carried out on women but men only and presidential powers which he feels remain intact. He has threatened to block the referendum in the courts if the government gives a two-week notice instead of two months.

Zanu-PF’s Bulawayo provincial chairman, Cde Killian Sibanda, said the NCA campaign was nonsensical and was coming from a group of people who felt sidelined in the constitution-making process.

“Madhuku is so aggrieved of being excluded from the constitution-making process so his call for a  No’ vote should not be taken seriously. Madhuku with his little known organisation will never succeed in convincing people to say ‘No’ to the draft constitution. The draft constitution is homegrown and people-driven and will never be sabotaged by one person,” said Cde Sibanda.

A Bulawayo teacher, Mrs Sandra Maphosa, said that a nation with highly educated people cannot be deprived of their values, rights and choices by a few individuals who are singing for their supper at the expense of the people’s views.

“Our country with a high literacy rate and learned people cannot allow some few individuals to emasculate their views. Those who are against the draft constitution want to stall progress in the country. We are fighting to have a new government that can attend to our plight as civil servants and we cannot listen to those few individuals who are singing for their own supper,” said Mrs Maphosa.

Dr Madhuku said yesterday that NCA was seeking resources to enable it to mobilise people for a “No” vote.

“I don’t have enough resources to mobilise people to vote ‘No’ to the document. If I am to be given resources and adequate time I will win the hearts of many for my ‘No’ vote campaign. The document is not people-driven and flawed with many clauses that are dictatorial,” claimed Dr Madhuku.

Among the key clauses in the draft constitution is one on the irreversibility of the land reform programme, respect for the liberation struggle and war veterans, gender equality, the removal of the Prime Minister’s post and recognition of more than 10 local languages.

Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said that those going against the draft constitution are seeking to defeat the interests of the Zimbabweans and thus reversing the gains of our liberation struggle.

“People should vote for the beautiful document because rejecting it will be a defeat of the people’s interests and those who sacrificed their lives for the independence of this country. I urge all Zanu-PF supporters to vote ‘Yes’ in the constitutional referendum,” said Minister Chinamasa.