Zimbabwe set to start constitutional reform process
While some of the EU Member States are preparing their commemorations of the 20th anniversary of transition to democracy, Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government is preparing to start a revision of the current constitution in a complicated transitional context with ongoing violence, a widespread political culture of fear and mistrust and a devastated economy. Zimbabwe cannot afford a failure of this Inclusive Government and Europe should do its utmost to support the transitional work where possible.
Since its’ independence Zimbabwe was governed by an Independence Constitution which was adopted under the Lancaster House agreement of 1979, ending the civil war for independence and racial inequality. Since this date, the Mugabe government came into power and added 18 subsequent amendments to the Constitution, strengthening presidential powers and turning Zimbabwe into an authoritarian country. In 2001 an attempt to introduce a new constitution was voted off in a referendum, after a fierce campaign by civil society attempting to oppose the repressive regime. Yet, even though opposition succeeded in the revolt, Zimbabweans casted a clear NO-vote, important issues such as the unlimited term of the President, powers of the executive and land reform remain unresolved.
In the early stage transition in which Zimbabwe is today- marked by the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed in September 2008 – the Inclusive Government of 71 Ministers and Deputy Ministers from the three antagonizing political parties (MDC-Tsvangirai, ZANU-PF and MDC-Mutambara) are set to work towards economic recovery and a constitutional reform process, resulting in new elections.
The Inclusive Government, being in office since 15 February of this year severely has lacked sufficient means and technical capacity to implement the goals set in the GPA. The Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary reform, charged with the facilitation of the constitutional process, which is due in mid 2010, doesn’t have any staff rather than Minister Matinenga and his Permanent Secretary, while other Ministries lack basic commodities like electricity or running water.
In this challenging constellation the ministers try to foster their cooperation despite great mutual mistrust and huge public expectations. The announced 100 days plan, resulting from a joint retreat near the Victoria Falls, would be a tangible result from this cooperation. The former antagonists should be commended for their current cooperation, but will the democratic dividend reach the people living in the rural areas fast enough? While these Zimbabweans are still struggling for survival, they will be asked to participate in the constitutional process in the upcoming year, which might not be the biggest worry on their minds.
Still being viewed as a pariah state within Southern Africa and beyond, investors and international donors are hesitant so far to boost Zimbabwe’s economy, health care and education systems, despite requests made by MDC ministers. The European Commission and European Embassies in Harare vowed to support the Constitutional and Parliamentary reform processes as priority areas. Any European support for Zimbabwe will be a reflection of Europe’s lively memory its own recent transitions to democracy and of expressing solidarity with people fighting for a transition under very challenging circumstances.
From enemies to partners: Zimbabwean Ministers talk about the difficult path of transition
On April 24-25, two Zimbabwean politicians, Elton
Mangoma, Minister of Economic Planning and Industry and Deputy Treasurer of the
MDC-Tsvangirai party, and Welshman Ncube, Minister of Industry and
Commerce, and Secretary General of the
MDC-Mutambara, visited The Netherlands on their first trip to Europe since the
inauguration of the new tripartite government in February this year. The Ministers
were invited by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) to discuss
the possibility of re-engagement with Zimbabwe on the international donor
community. In discussions with the Ministers, the Dutch government and several politicians
indicated that although they were as yet not prepared to consider budget
support , they would be willing to support the democratic transition process
itself. "It is still to early
to restore the development relations with the Zimbabwean government ",
said the Dutch Minister for International Cooperation, Bert Koenders, after
meeting both Ministers. More about this meeting.