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A eulogy for Cde Msika

A call for collective action

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ON June 27 this year, the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) organized what it termed the Diaspora Constitutional Reform Symposium and hosted the event in central Johannesburg, South Africa. ZEF was supported by the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) and the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA)’s States in Transition Observatory. Between July 20 and July 21 this year, there was a Zimbabwe Civic Consolidation and Regional Solidarity Consultation Forum organized by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and the Feminist Political Education Project (FePEP).

Hon. Minister Eric Matinenga speaking in Johannesburg

Activist, Elinor Sisulu speaks in Harare

Some of the issues raised at the ZEF symposium revolved around questions such as; How should a Constitution-making process for Zimbabwe engage and include the Diaspora and the displaced? Who should consult who and how extensive should participation be? What weight should be placed on the role of the lanacaster House Constitution, the 2000 draft, the Kariba draft and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) draft in the new Constitution-making process? (follow the link to view our picture gallery of the two events)

The specific objectives of the symposium were, among others; to help the Diaspora assess the Government of national unity’s adherence to democratic principles in fashioning a home grown constitutional draft, to facilitate meaningful and effective Diaspora involvement in the crafting of a new Constitution, and to profile the conceptual relationship between the Constitution-making process, the substantive issues contained in the Constitution and the imperatives of transitional justice.

On the other hand, the Regional Solidarity Consultation Forum focused more on the role of civil society in the Zimbabwe’s renewal. This broad term captures issues such as the analysis of the Global Political Agreement signed on 15 September 2008 by ZANU-PF and the two MDC factions, Economic recovery, constitutional reform, transitional justice and national healing, institutional and legislative reform, land reform and international solidarity as a form of struggle.

We bring you the pictures of both these events below. For inquiries on the use of images, please email; zimbabweinpictures[at]gmail[dot]com

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Zimbabwe’s Constitutional & Parliamentary Affairs minister, Eric Matinenga has also stated that emphasis should be put on the final document that comes. Matinenga stressed that the Constitution which will be of high integrity and a reflection of the views of ordinary Zimabweans. Reflecting on Zimbabwe’s scarred recent past, Glen Mpani (Regional Co-ordinator – Transitional Justice Programme) stated the need for proper reconcilliation in the aftermath of the violent attacks on Zimbabweans by sponsored militia. “The process must be able to deal with the damage that has been done since victims are now living side-by-side with perpetrators,” said Mpani.

View the latest pictures from the morning session below. The afternoon session has just kicked off and it is ZCTU Secretary-General, Wellington Chibhebhe on the podium.

Prominent Zimbabwe Lawyer, Arnold Tsunga gets proceedings started at the symposium (pic: levi kabwato)

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Extract from For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon

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© Chris Kabwato (kumbirayi[at]gmail[dot]com)

On 27th February I had an opportunity to attend a show by one of the young voices on the poetry/music scene in Zimbabwe. Comrade Fatso aka Samm Farai Munro is representative of the radical voices that have come into being due to the governance crisis. Whereas in the ‘80s we had permed hair and spoke through the nose trying hard to be English (we actually used to believe we were as British as they come), these youths assert their Zimbabwean identities in language, words, clothing and symbols…
To be in a Comrade Fatso concert is to be in some one bubble of energy and inspiration. But he is not the only one…Outspoken, Godobori, Ronald Jongwe, Poetic Angel and more are names you shall soon know. Beneath the broken pieces of our dream there is a wind that is gathering speed and it will be a hurricane by the time it hits the global stage…
So in this issue, with the help of my sister, Ethel, I give you the lowdown on the protest poetry rocking Zimbabwe. I wish to thank HIVOS who invited me to a groundbreaking workshop on Arts, Culture and Freedom of Expression on 26 February in Harare. With the uncertainties of the next two years till another election, artists, journalists and activists cannot be lulled into a false sense of security. Strengthening the voice of artists should be a priority for organisations that understand how arts and culture percolate our whole social being.

In the beginning was the Word…

Chris Kabwato
Publisher

DOWNLOAD EDITION 17 HERE

Publisher’s note: The Zimbabwe in Pictures team wishes to extend its heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for the loss of his dear wife, Susan who died in a tragic car accident on March 7. We salute this unsung gallant fighter for a free Zimbabwe.

It could be Pliny the Roman scholar who died in AD79 who threw the curse at our continent when he observed – “There is always something new coming out of Africa”. We are one damn crazy joke. One big tragic joke. The something new in Africa started in Kenya where it was resolved that if you beat the opposition into submission you then form a unity government where real power remains with the incumbent. Now when you have done that in Kenya why not then gravitate southward and reward the magnificent efforts of one Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe with the same solution. So this is democracy?
At the time when we were celebrating two developments one international and the other continental – Barack Obama’s inauguration and the Ghana elections – the spineless and morally-bankrupt leaders of Southern African countries – chose to appease one of their own. No, Pliny was wrong. Africa does not surprise. It continues to betray its own with such boring predictability. But it can’t continue like this. Africans will have to demand better than this perpetual tragedy. The youth that I meet on the streets of Harare, Dakar, Johannesburg etc want a different Africa. They see a leader like Barack Obama and wonder why our leaders cannot be driven by the same value – the value of true public service. The political office is not a gravy train. It is an office to serve.
As Zimbabwe in Pictures comes back into 2009 stronger and more focused the theme of public service and accountability will be a strong feature of our work and our values. So a very tepid welcome to the strange creature that SADC has foisted on us but a warning to Mugabe and his henchmen that the people will no longer sit by and see you continue to fulfill Pliny’s prophecy.

Chris Kabwato
Publisher

- kumbirayi@gmail.com

DOWNLOAD EDITION 16 HERE