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Bennett Trial Resumes Next Tuesday

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Bennett Trial Resumes Next Tuesday Iz qula enzo u I G ze o n ir z it o a G M u q a j u n l i a h C C h o i r n i t j i a a M M a a i j t i n r i o h C The Changing Times Movement for Democratic Change A Party of Excellence! The Official Mouthpiece of the MDC Friday 08 January 2010 MDC Information & Publicity Department, Harvest House, 44 Nelson Mandela Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe Issue 021: 2010 Distributed free of charge Kariba Draft defeated …as MDC wins fight for people-driven Constitution HARARE - Zanu PF has capitulated agreement, GPA, was clear that the and yielded to pressure from the Constitution-making process “must be MDC to abandon the so-called owned and driven by the people and Kariba Draft Constitution, which the must be inclusive and democratic.” party’s first secretary Robert Mugabe wanted imposed as the Constitution of “The MDC is a party of excellence,” Zimbabwe. said MDC national spokesperson Hon Nelson Chamisa. “We believe that Zimbabwe next week starts hearings the people are at the epicentre of any on a new Constitution that many hope national process. We believe in a truly will strengthen the role of Parliament, people-driven Constitution-making whittle down the president’s powers process. The unfettered will of the and guarantee civil liberties and people must be allowed to prevail and political and media reforms. But in the end, we must have a Constitution Mugabe, who was on a collision course of the people, for the people and by the with the MDC after insisting that his people themselves.” Zanu PF wanted the hearings to focus on a draft charter, named “Kariba Civil society members in Zimbabwe, Draft”, penned by his party and the MDC in 2007, has now backtracked who contended that the voice of the after a meeting of legislators ahead of people was silenced in both the Kariba public hearings set to start next week Draft and the current proceedings, Tuesday. The cross-party consensus to welcomed the abandonment of the abandon the so-called Kariba Draft, a Kariba Draft and urged stronger input “hybrid” draft between one rejected in by the people of Zimbabwe for any new Constitution to have legitimacy and a 2000 referendum and another written The above MDC campaign for a people-driven Constitution has bore fruit by civic society groups the same year, truly reflect the will of the people. was obtained after this week’s training It was an interim Constitution that was therefore died on 4 December 2007 December 2007 was staunchly opposed for legislators to determine their role in meant to be used only for the 2008 because of Zanu PF’s intransigence. by the MDC, leading to the party’s A referendum is scheduled later the Constitution-making process. latest triumph. this year and once a charter is in election, but on 4 December 2007, Zanu Zanu PF’s attempt to resurrect a place, Zimbabwe is expected to have PF refused to implement the Kariba document meant for the 2008 election The Changing Times heard that instead The MDC national spokesman said another attempt at holding a free and of using the Kariba Draft, which gives Draft. Its function and intended purpose which they rejected and turned down in Article V1 of the global political fair election. the president too much power, as a template for the new Constitution, thematic committees would develop a set of questionnaires which will contain a format on how to solicit for views from the people. Bennett trial resumes next Tuesday HARARE – The trial of MDC Senator Bennett becomes that 10th MDC’s Douglas Mwonzora, the treasurer-general and deputy high profile political figure to face co-chair of the select committee leading Agriculture minister-designate, treason charges since Mugabe the process, said the 17 thematic Senator Roy Bennett, who is facing came to power in 1980. The highly spurious banditry and terrorism committees will be asked to develop popular Hon Bennett’s political “talking points” to be used during charges, resumes at the High Court Tuesday next week. track record and the timing of his discussions with citizens on the new politically-charged trial has given it constitution they want. Senator Bennett is being charged a special significance. under the draconian Public Order The MDC said the capitulation by Zanu and Security Act, (POSA) for Last month, at the Zanu-PF party PF on the Kariba Draft was a triumph buying arms of war in 2006 to carry congress in Harare, Mugabe tore for democracy. out acts of insurgency, sabotage, into Hon Bennett calling him banditry and terrorism. He faces life imprisonment if he is convicted. the “settler’s son.” Mugabe says Following an extra-ordinary national he will not swear Hon Bennett executive meeting held on 23 June into office because he was facing The State alleges it has e-mail 2009, the MDC resolved to reject any serious charges, yet plenty of Zanu attempt by Zanu PF to foist the Kariba correspondence and confessions it obtained through torture from gun PF officials, including the Vice Draft, or any other draft, on the people President John Nkomo, facing dealer Peter Michael Hitschmann, Senator Roy Bennett of Zimbabwe. it wants to use as part of evidence charges of sodomy, have been against Hon. Bennett. The State case is being pesonally led by weapons have also raised questions sworn into office. The Kariba Draft Constitution was a the partisan Attorney-General Johannes over the seriousness of the prosecution. compromise document drafted by the Tomana, who is a known Zanu However, when the trial resumed As he prepares to face the three political parties in Zimbabwe’s PF activist. last year, there was drama at the Hon. Bennett was arrested in February prosecutors again, Hon Bennett ruling coaltion and initialled on 30 High Court in Harare, when some at the Charles Prince Airport in Harare admits he is exhausted. But he September 2007 to minimize the witnesses failed to turn-up and Dubious State witnesses, cobbled arms possibility of a contested election result the paperwork by the State was of war exhibits and the mysterious on the day he was due to be sworn in to hopes even the country’s flawed in 2008, in line with a SADC resolution in shambles. disappearance of evidence especially the “inclusive” government. legal system would acquit him. that had given birth to the dialogue. MDC, delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe 1 ZBC - willing victim of abuse The Zimbabwe Broadcasting political parties sharing power today Makoni’s impassioned plea is premised Corporation (ZBC) as a national in a transitional administration led by on the understanding that President institution and a state broadcaster has President Tsvangirai. ZBC must stop Tsvangirai is the only serious politician been a willing victim of abuse since leaking the backsides of Zanu PF fools who can put Zimbabwe back onto the colonialism. The institution has failed and broadcasting foolish stories and rails. The only setback, a very minor dismally to find its own character, ideas on the direction Zimbabwe is set one, is that Makoni’s statement came in a bit late. President Tsvangirai has often parroting the master’s voice – to go. already taken action and continues to from Rhodesia into Robert Mugabe’s do. President Tsvangirai, as head of 30-year dictatorship. The main problem in Zanu PF came government, shall proceed and direct out clearly at the party’s recent so- the land audit with zeal and speed to called Congress. The party is said to With the advent of the inclusive the utmost satisfaction of Zimbabweans have resolved that it would never yield government which saw Mugabe’s before the end of the year. humiliating defeat and outright any ground in the negotiations for the full implementation of the GPA – a surrender to President Tsvangirai, and A few days ago, John Nkomo endorsed another dud story ZBC peddled. But his two deputies, as head of government, the audit. Earlier, Agriculture Minister while the news bulletins filled up the ZBC has totally lost focus. Herbert Murerwa who reports to our unfortunately abused airwaves, President Tsvangirai, the Prime Mugabe and Zanu PF had conceded to The station continues to behave, in Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe, 16 MDC demands and agreed, kicking its news selection and presentation, explained the purpose of the land audit and screaming in shame, to their speedy as if Zanu PF and Mugabe are still in – dispelling rumours which Mliswa and implementation. Among the 16 was the his fellow invaders are spreading in charge, thus denying Zimbabweans need for a land audit. Mashonaland West and other areas. access to vital information about the transformation of their society Mliswa and others are better reminded Murerwa was at the Zanu PF congress from a tyranny to a new social and that gone are days when they could where he heard the party faithful political order. The ZBC remains get away with the abuse of national deceive themselves into thinking that in denial; being directed by a Zanu institutions at the expense of the people. their party was no longer going to yield PF parallel administration bent on A logo of state broadcaster ZBC which is being directed by a Zanu We know that the police, security any ground in the talks. He decided to frustrating change. PF parallel administration that is hell bent on scuttling change. services and the army are tired of being keep his mouth shut, knowing that his abused for partisan Zanu PF projects.
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