ZIMBABWE — HARARE - A defiant pro-democracy group announced Friday it was leading yet another country wide and diaspora protest next Tuesday demanding that a transitional government be set up with the immediate responsibility of addressing the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in the crisis-torn country.

 

The National Constitutional Assembly, NCA, a coalition of church groups, students and trade unions campaigning for a new Constitution, says the planned countrywide protests will also be held simultaneously with protests in South Africa, which will be led by the NCA desk in the neighbouring country.

 

The protests in the neighbouring country would be dubbed the "diaspora protests."

The government has however warned that police would deal forcefully with any political unrest.

The protests are planned as the NCA reports that one of its three-month pregnant activists (name withheld) miscarried in police cells at Mutare Central Police Station after she was kicked in the stomach by police officers during interrogation. 

NCA leader and law professor, Lovemore Madhuku, who was arrested ahead of Tuesday's protests, said the pressure group would mount protests weekly until the government capitulates.

"The NCA is demanding a new transitional government which, during its lifespan, must give the people of Zimbabwe unlimited freedoms to write their own constitution hold free and fair elections under the new constitution and install a government of the people, by the people, for the people," Madhuku said.

The NCA says dozens of activists were arrested in demonstrations countrywide Tuesday this week. In Mutare, nine activists were arrested during the Tuesday demo.

In Bulawayo, five NCA members were taken to court and charged with a violation of Section 37 of the criminal law codification and reform act, which concerns actions intended to incite violence. The five arrested men were released Thursday on bail pending a court date set for November 27.

Additionally, ten NCA members were yesterday discharged from police stations in Harare and Gweru after being forced to pay fines. The fines were said to be penalties for disorderly conduct or similar behaviour.

"Many of the released individuals described beatings at the hands of police officers," NCA spokesman Maddock Chivasa told ZimDaily. "NCA staff attempting to take food to the Gweru detainees were themselves detained, and much of the food they delivered was confiscated and eaten by police officers."

Madhuku said at the centre of the present deadlock in the politics of Zimbabwe was a flawed Constitution. He said the constitution does not safeguard human rights and leaves too much power in the hands of President Mugabe, allowing him to stay in office as long as he liked.

Mugabe, who has consistently opposed a new constitution-making process, claims the current Constitution was an expression of national sovereignty as it replaced a constitution largely produced by Britain on the eve of Zimbabwe's independence.

The power-sharing agreement between the MDC and Zanu-PF, currently teetering on the verge of collapse, has provisions for a constitution making process within the next 18 months.
Madhuku said Zimbabwe needs to adopt a genuinely democratic new constitution.

 

When Zimbabwe became independent nearly three decades ago, it was with a constitution negotiated at Lancaster House in London, as part of a peace agreement ending years of civil war. A new constitution was non-negotiable, said Madhuku.

 

JOKE OF THE DAY - A woman and her little girl were visiting the grave of the little girl's grandmother. On their way through the cemetery back to the car, the little girl asked, "Mommy, do they ever bury two people in the same grave?"

"Of course not, dear." replied the mother, "Why would you think that?"

"The tombstone back there said, 'Here lies a lawyer and an honest man.'"

 

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