By
Blessing Vava
On the 28th of September the
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) will be convening its historic congress
at its headquarters, Bumbiro House in Harare. The congress meets after the last
General Assembly then in 2006, and presented an opportune moment for the
movement to reflect on its failures and successes since its formation in 1997. Our
fight over the years has been the fight for a people
driven constitution. Mindful of the founding vision of the NCA of ‘a peaceful,
prosperous, democratic and united country founded on human dignity and social
justice’ and mission ‘for Zimbabwe to have a new, democratic and people driven
constitution,’ the NCA have never lost sight of what it’s seek to achieve
despite the obstacles that it has encountered over the years. In 2000 it
successfully blocked Mugabe’s sponsored constitution, mobilising Zimbabweans
from the length and breadth of our country to vote NO in the referendum held in February the same year.
The rejection was as a result
of the historical processes, the National Working People’s Convention (1999),
which clearly espoused that the writing of a new constitution should not be led
by individual or political parties. The same resolution was also articulated by
the Zimbabwe Peoples Charter (2008), giving NCA solid reasons and justification
to reject Article Six of the Global Political Agreement, (GPA). In all these
events the NCA agreed that the writing of a new constitution be open, owned and
driven by the people of Zimbabwe. The NCA had seen the shortcomings of
entrusting those in political offices to write a constitution for the whole
nation, thus rejecting Article 6 of the Global Political Agreement.
To NCA, Article 6 fell short
of what we in the organisation believe in; it relegated the people of Zimbabwe
to be mere spectators in the writing of their own constitution. How
retrogressive were our former friends, the 2 MDCs, whose founding nucleus was
the National Working People’s Convention, have also reneged from that
principle. They threw away the NWPC agreement the moment they joined Mugabe’s
bandwagon. Selling principle on the altar of political convenience:
revolutionary movements do not renege from principle. It is these historical
documents and events, the NWPC resolutions and the Zimbabwe Peoples Charter
that NCA will continue using as tools of analysis for complicated day to day
social, economic and political matters.
Against this background, the
NCA remained principled despite the foolish, childish and rather false claims
that the NCA existed to siphon donor resources for survival. It is no secret
that when COPAC was established the NCA refused to be part of that charade and
some donors tried to manipulate the NCA to be part of that bandwagon. A notion
we totally rejected.
It is during that time that
some donors from the western world dumped the NCA for its refusal to support
the inclusive government constitution making process. Over the years we have
learnt a big lesson that for any struggle to succeed it has to be a principled
struggle and that the issues of money must never compromise on the goals and
objectives to be achieved. Proudly, our movement has grown from strength and
the dedication by the membership must be saluted. They have stood the test,
contributing the little from their hard earned cash to fund the organisation.
Such dedication and commitment is motivated by the desire for a prosperous and
democratic country. For that reason, prophets of doom who wished the collapse
of the NCA were totally shamed. Therefore,
as we define a new path on the 28th of September, It is that steadfastness,
commitment and principle that will enable any movement to live long.
The politics of the land today
have dramatically changed and as such we have to re-organise ourselves in this
new terrain. Our struggle for a people driven constitution will forever be at
the forefront until victory is achieved. Thus this congress is about setting
the foundation for the future for our beloved country.
This congress will set an
agenda and program for the democratic revolution. It is a stepping stone
towards a society, a political culture that accommodates debate, disagreements
and differing opinions without labelling of comrades as sell-out, lost,
traitors or counter-revolutionary.
As a revolutionary movement,
the NCA have learnt especially at a time when donors dumped it that a movement
can be sustained by its membership. This could not have been achieved if it did
not have committed cadre within its ranks. This is why the membership coming to
this historic congress has taken it upon itself to fund for own transport and
accommodation. Such levels of sacrifice
are indeed a reason to celebrate. As we
continue recruiting, our membership must be disciplined and commit voluntarily
for the good of the movement. Those
obsessed with material or personal gains have no place in our ranks.
Hence, this National Congress
affords us the opportunity to account for our stewardship over the past period
and at the same time devise strategies and map out plans for a bolder and
better future.
Thus, the demand for visionary
leadership has never been so compelling. On the same vein and as an
organisation, we revile in strongest terms the continued disparaging slander by
some self-imposed political commentators and analysts on casting aspersions on
the integrity of the NCA and its leadership.
Our colossal challenge going
forward is to ensure that we remain true in our course in building unity and
cohesion in our movement. If we look back at the road we have traversed in the
last years, so can we be confident that as the revolutionary organisation we
have stood the test of time and emerged unscathed by the challenges that came
before us in our persistent struggle for a democratic constitution that will
also seek to improve material conditions of the people and making our people to
live their own lives for the better.
Our resolve for unity and
cohesion remains unshaken; our mission to champion a new democratic
dispensation remains untiring. We therefore wish our delegates fruitful
deliberations on the day of congress.
Blessing Vava is the Director
of Information for the National Constitutional Assembly. He can be contacted on
blessingvava@gmail.com
