THE AFRICAN DREAM: ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACKWARDS

An Africa Day letter from the Convention Secretary’s desk.

This Africa Day, one wishes there was something to celebrate. Do not get me wrong, the National Youth Development Trust hails that historic generation of Africa’s first leaders that converged in Addis Abbaba to form the Organization of African Unity in 1963. We resonate with the ideals of African solidarity, of African nations assisting one another and building each other’s capacity to make a better life for the citizens of Africa. We cannot fail to acknowledge the dire need for social, economic, political and cultural co-operation among African states. We are in total support of Africa finding her place in the world and playing a more significant role in the broader global discourse. We resonate with the concept of the African Rennaisance and support noble initiatives such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Simply put, the National Youth Development Trust believes in the African Dream.

Zimbabwe’s situation today really does not make the ordinary Zimbabwean feel proud to be African. I personally do not feel compelled to chant the traditional “Harambee” slogan of African solidarity. We have been abandoned. The world knows too well of the electoral crises and profound suffering we are going through. I am not one that expects international intervention to save us but I am very bitter about how our African brothers and sisters have handled our predicament. Even the least politically conscious Zimbabwean knows very well how the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has dragged its feet with regards to taking a tougher stance against the authors of our plight in Harare. One wonders whether or not the African Union (OAU’s successor) has a leeway to override SADC’s mandate and play a more serious role in alleviating our suffering.

This obtaining situation has raised a lot of questions about what African Solidarity really means. Does it mean that those who drove the liberation movement of Africa should stick together even where it is blatantly clear that one of them has ruined their land. Does it mean that a fellow brother cannot publicly admonish his or her compatriot. Of course we are cognisant of the delicate nature diplomatic mission with regard to foreign policy but we Zimbabweans have been too patient for too long. SADC’s mediation effort has done us more harm than good.

For us it never rains but pours incessantly. To add to our profound suffering, our Southern neighbours just woke up one morning and decided we are no longer welcome in their land. A spirited campaign of xenophobic violence has been visited on the millions of foreigners living as political and economic refugees in South Africa. When the violence broke out, I for one was convinced it was just a pocket of isolated hooligans in one or two settlements. But alas, the campaign gathered steam and rapidly spread across the country like a veld fire. It came to light that it is an organised and well orchestrated movement. So organised that residents meetings were held and it was agreed that foreigners are “taking our jobs and our wives”. The solution, therefore, is to drive out the filth.

What an insult. The statement, to begin with, is blatantlly sexist. People are failing to realise that most of the foreigners, especially Zimbabweans are enterprising women who are just commited to the cause of feeding their families. Our people are accused of accepting any salary for a job and, therefore prejudicing the locals. This is just a pointer to the crisis in Zimbabwe. Any amount, for the Zimbabwean, will make a difference between having a meal and doing without. Our people are industrious, intelligent and educated and it is only expected for them to perform competitively on the job market. West Africans, our fellow accused are known for their enteprise and business prowess and it is only expected of them to fare well.

Do not get me wrong, I am in total agreement with the assertion that the South African government has the primary objective of serving the interests of South Africans. Certainly, this is not an issue of foreigners stealing jobs, it is an issue of two communities of poor people frustrated with their circumstances. If there is someone that the residents of Thembisa, Alexandra and Diepsloot should be angry with, it is their government for failing to swiftly expand vital social services such as housing. South Africa, sometimes refered to as a second world country in the third world, is notorious for its wealth distribution discrepancies. The poor South Africans cannot understand their poverty in the middle of such fabulous wealth and decide to take it out on their poor brothers and sisters, who are also trying to eke out a living on the periphery of the economy.

Be that as it may, South Africa is a leading African nation and it is only normal that it should have the liberal immigration laws that it has. The blame here falls squarely on the South African government for failing to devise a working immigrant policy. The government policy documents are clear that South Africa is in dire need of external skilled labour and will remain so for the forseeable future. The booming economy needs to be sustained by skilled labour which, unfortunately, South Africa is not generating. There are some suggestions that politics is at play. Policy makers that have failed to deliver to the people are fuelling xenophobic tensions in a ploy to shift blame.

My concern, disregarding the technical and procedural dimensions mentioned above, is that Africans can still think in such a primitive way at such a time as this. Have they no sanctity for human life to murder poor brothers and sisters. One does not let emotion cloud their judgement and resort to shedding blood. Nelson Mandela, the world statesman, is on record for saying that Africa is for all Africans and no one nationality or ethnic group is superior to another. President Thabo Mbeki has espoused the same sentiments in his African Rennaisance dream all too often. The National Youth Development Trust is disturbed by these developments and calls for calm and tolerance. Politicians should do more than just going to crime scenes and condemning the violence for television. We want to see the murderers being brought to book and justice prevailing. Watching South African news, one gets the feeling that the law enforcement agents are not serious about ending the bloodlet as we clearly see the locals swearing and threatening to unleash more violence right there on television in the presence of the police.

The National Youth Development Trust notes with rage that unemployment has driven many young people to South Africa for economic survival and the latest developments makes their plight even worse. We believe that Zimbabweans have the obligation to solve their own problems but our brothers should not exonerate themselves from playing their part. We applaud the South African Personalities Against Xenophobia for the noble campaigns and demonstrations they have been having as a response to the crisis. Is South Africa still in good public stead to host the 2010 World Cup in light of the unfolding mess? Your guess is as good as mine.

We have so many problems bedevilling us as Africans that we need to work together to solve. Neccessity, more than anything else, dictates that we stick together. Sectorial interests must not divide us in our quest to achieve the African Dream. Mayibuye!

Yours truly

Mziwandile Ndlovu-Thwalimbiza, Convention Secretary.

NYDT Disappointed

As Zimbabweans continue to wait in anticipation to know who their representatives for the next five years are, NYDT would like to raise some serious questions as to the efficiency, transparency and credibility of the Zimbabwe Election Commission to cover this harmonized election. Weeks before the 29^th of March, ZEC went to town in the media about how well prepared it was to carry out the voting process and deliver to the electorate the results on time. 48 hours after the closure of polling stations, only 50 out of 210 House of assembly constituencies had been officially announced, raising fears that the election might be stolen.

Not withstanding the huge task and complications that may accompany a historic harmonized election, NYDT would like to express disappointment for the commission's delay in the announcement of all election results. It was NYDT and every Zimbabwean's expectation that a body like ZEC would have the necessary tools to compile and as per the law deliver the election results timely and accurately, so that there is no information blackout that allows other interested parties to announce their own unofficial results- creating confusion, frustration and despondency among the voters. The delay in the election result announcements is an infringement on the rights of the millions of Zimbabwean voters who braved the cold and dark night to queue, some of them traveling from as far as South Africa to cast their votes.

It is saddening that an institution with as important a mandate as that of ZEC can relax on important processes like a nation's selection of its representatives and more so the youths' right to take part in a process which is the determination of their future. How does ZEC explain the none existence on the voter's rolls of thousands of voters who swear they registered to vote and the continued appearance on the voters roll of Zimbabweans long dead and buried? Does this not suggest that ZEC did not have a supplementary voter's roll? How does ZEC explain its refusal for the MDC to check the voter's roll in electric format to avoid embarrassing discrepancies like that of having more than seventy voters claiming they stay in a cabin on a piece of bear land?

Shall we assume that ZEC as a body will run away with the true elections results much like its chairman Justice George Chiweshe literally ran from media practitioners who wanted to know why the election results were delaying?

Zimbabweans needs to know why it has taken so long to announce the outcome, we need to know why the voters roll was still in shambles when you said all was in order weeks before March 29, we need to know why some polling stations opened later than 7am, we need to know why at some voting stations the ballot papers were not in the announced colours, we need to know why ballot papers ran out by 10am at some voting stations, we need to know why some polling agents were refused entry into polling stations, we need to know why some candidates were allowed to talk to voters at the polling centers. We need to know this and we need to know it now!

Whatever the explanations, ZEC has not done enough to ensure that they produce uncontested electoral outcome. If anything, it has confirmed the fears of the voters and destroyed any bit of electoral confidence that was left in the electorate. We also condemn the premature pronouncements of elections as free and fair by the regional observer teams, despite the fact that the announcements of results is not even half-way through.

Inserted by

NYDT Information department

5^th Floor York House

Cnr 8^th Ave./ H. Chitepo Street

Bulawayo

Cell : 011 446 150/ 011 745 758

NYDT Remembers March 11 2007

As we remember the March 11 events, we take this opportunity to remember the gallant fighters ( youths) that have been sacrificed for the cause of genuine Freedom and independence in Zimbabwe( Gift Tandare, Learnmore Jongwe and others). On this day ( March 11) we once again condemn with the strongest words, the state sponsored violence and brutality against unarmed but concerned citizens. We assert that the futureof this country, the development of Zimbabwe and the growth of future leaders can not be established in this ensuing culture of violence. We affirm our support for all the activists, civic groups, opposition movements and other progressive movements working towards the restoration of democratic and developmental fundamentals in Zimbabwe. In that same vein we confirm our solidarity with all the Zimbabwean youths who continue on the day to day struggle against the ever increasing insecurities such as state sponsored violence, lawlessness, draconian legislations, flawed electoral frameworks and practice, hunger, poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and marginalization.

The levels of intolerance that prevail in the Zimbabwean political landscape have really reached alarming levels. There is an African proverb which says, “When lice begins to reach his underpants, a man must boil his clothes”. This is a simple proverb which means that a problem must not be allowed to reach alarming levels before drastic measures are taken to solve it. The perpetuation of a culture of intolerance and violence in Zimbabwean political landscape has really reached alarming levels and as we move towards determining the future of Zimbabwe on the 29th of March, we call upon all the young people in Zimbabwe to stop the rot by acting responsibly, condemning violence and diverting their energies towards building a better political culture in Zimbabwe. It is only when we allow differing opinions to emerge that we progress as a nation. Wise men say, "When two business people always agree, then one of them is of no use".

It is therefore imperative that government security forces practice tolerance and become the sole protectors of the citizens of Zimbabwe not perpetrators of the violence they are supposed to curb. Leaders deserve to be respected and a disagreement with their views should not be expressed through the use of bullets, button sticks nor teargas but should be raised in a respectful non violent manner.

Enter Simba Makoni: Is Zimbabwe heading towards a better future?

The entrance into the presidential race by Dr Simba Makoni is the most exciting thing that has happened to Zimbabwean Politics in the last 10 years. Politicians, civil society leaders and ordinary Zimbabweans have been asking themselves if he is the answer to a more than decade long crisis. Whatever the case, NYDT believes that the most positive thing that has resulted from Makoni’s entry into the Presidential race has been that most people and most notably the youths, have gone to register to vote in next month’s harmonized elections.

After years and years of preaching the message to the young to participate in the electoral game, finally, something has made them take their first step towards participation. This must tell us something. It in a way answers the questions as to why youths have been apathetic in previous elections. Maybe they did not realize the importance of voting then compared to now or they had not found anyone worthy of voting for.

However, a lot of mystery still surrounds this last minute action by Dr Makoni, a longtime ZANU PF member and Robert Mugabe loyal. While others believe he is the bridge between the nationalists and those calling for a democratic revolution since he understands ZANU PF operations and is generally acceptable to international, regional and local democratic forces, others believe that he is nothing more that a ZANU PF creation to cause confusion and divisions within the opposition movements in Zimbabwe.

They raise questions as to why he took so long to breakaway. If the ZANU PF congress produced and unworthy candidate why did he hang in there until the end of ZANU PF primaries and a realization that he won’t make it to parliament. Many have asked why he remained a loyal member of a politburo which presided over decisions which resulted in gross human rights violations. Such decisions include, the Gukurahundi massacres, land/ farm invasion, unleashing of green bombers on opposition politicians, Operation Murambatsvina, the Industrial invasions and many such events that he seems to have kept quiet about over the years.

Those who support him have been quick to defend him and argue that the decisions in the politburo are made by about 40 members and that it is possible that Dr Makoni has voted against most decisions that led to disastrous directives and policies such as the gukurahundi massacres, land reform and the invasion of factories. There are also arguments to the fact that, as a loyal member of ZANU PF, he could not publicly declare his opposition to the ZANU PF leadership at these occassions.

During his first press conference, Dr. Makoni announced that he is still a loyal member of ZANU PF and this means that he is loyal to ZANU PF ideologies, ZANU PF principles and ZANU PF policies yet it is such policies, principles and ideologies that have brought us to where we are today. Another eyebrow raising incident is that of him filing his papers to contest in the ZANU PF primaries for an MP’s seat in the Makoni District. The question is, if he originally wanted to be president in place of Mugabe today, why was he willing to sit in parliament being led by the same man he is now challenging. His defenders allege that his nomination papers for the ZANU PF primaries were filled by someone else and that Dr. Makoni was out of the country by then. What they have not said however is who instructed that person to complete the nomination for Makoni

Also suspicious is the secrecy surrounding those who are in ZANU PF and are said to be in full support of him. The only close associates that have been seen hanging around the rebel Dr. are Dr Ibbo Mandaza and Kudzai Mbuzi. Save from media speculation that General Solomon Mujuru, Retired Colonel Vitalis Zvinavashe, and former Zipra Intelligence Chief Dumiso Dabengwa are amongst some of his backers, we have not heard of any more and none of those mentioned above have come out to publicly support Makoni. Once again his loyalists have argued that it is a matter of strategy for his other backers not to come out publicly because that will make them targets of the regime.

With less than 40 days to go before the historic harmonized elections, Dr Makoni has a lot to prove to the nation about how genuine he is about altering the fortunes of ordinary Zimbabweans and how capable he is of delivering if he is to be given the chance to do so.

Youths, have your say on this issue. Do you think Dr Simba Makoni offers a better answer to Zimbabwe’s problems than President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai? Do you trust his intentions and why? Please also let us know if you are a registered voter, if you will go ahead and vote and if not why you will not do so?. When you vote will you be voting according to the candidate’s party or according to the candidate’s capabilities.

Post your comments by clicking on the word comments then writing in the blank box that will appear on you computer screen immediately afterwards. Make sure you choose the anonymous signature if you do not wish to be identified and please use language that is friendly for all blog readers.

What is happening to our education system?

The biggest threat (since independence in 1980) confronts the future of Zimbabwe’s youths with regards to their education. While schools are set to resume classes this Tuesday (15/01/08), doubt has been cast on whether pupils will be able to make it to the classroom? Let us look at the odds weighing against our student brothers and sisters starting with what is supposed to be in their power to execute.

A student is supposed to pay tuition fees in advance of the resumption of the school term. School fees have been increased by 600%. This entails a Government boarding school charging tuition fees of about Z$250million. Parents with Children attending private schools like Petra or Girls College High Schools are this year expected to folk out no less than Z$I,6billion and Z$1,5billion dollars respectively minus the groceries.

For day school students, given that many of them learn far away from their homes, parents need to avail a monthly transport and lunch allowance which is nothing less than $200 million dollars per school going child. This means that a family that has more than two school going children will require no less than half a billion dollars every month just for lunch and transport.

This is an impossible feat. Especially considering that a civil servant (for example a senior teacher) after a 1000% increment by government last week, will be taking home nothing more than Z$250million monthly. How does a parent working as a civil servant and has more than one school going child afford to pay fees for his/her children. This same scenario applies to most bread winners working in the country’s industries and are being paid peanuts. For example industrial production workers earn about 80million dollars and are expected to cover their own and their children’s transport fares plus school fees and food at home, how do they explain not being able to afford their children’s basic needs on the first day of school?

Learning institutions also have their part of the bargain to meet. Government has to make sure that schools have adequate learning material and facilities like textbooks, science labs, good infrastructure, enough and competent educators. Teachers have to be well remunerated and a good work environment created for them to stay on in their jobs. Teachers in turn have to advance their skills and dedicate most of their time to the teaching profession so that they ensure continued quality delivery.

The failure by the above to meet half way has caused a breakdown in the Zimbabwean school’s education system once known as the best in Southern if not all of Africa. The reasons are as follows (At least according to those concerned).

Teachers will spend most of their time sitting or dealing in anything else that will supplement their paltry salaries than in the classroom teaching. Students will spend the day gallivanting in the city streets than sit in class waiting for a teacher who is hardly ever present. Government will hesitate to increase teachers’ salaries because it claims it has no money. Parents will delay paying fees because (in the case of civil servants) Government always takes its time increasing their salaries and when it decides to do so it announces it through the national press. This encourages everyone else to hike their service costs in anticipation of the civil Servants’ “hefty increments”.

The above situation will culminate in nothing less than disaster. Our brothers and sisters risk being sucked into criminal and prostitution rings due to their vulnerability. An unempowered youth group, lacking in positive activity and adequate education is susceptible to risky survival tactics and mostly not serving of their interests. The girl child (especially in rural set ups) risks being left out of the classroom as parents are once again forced to choose between who (given the limited resources) is most beneficial at the time to educate. Needless to say, given the above state of affairs, the future looks bleak for the school going youths of Zimbabwe and for the country as a whole.

Who do you think is to blame for the situation that this sector is in and how do you think it can be improved on? Youths speak your mind on this and other areas to do with education in Zimbabwe by cliquing on comments. A window will appear where you can post your views and send it to us with your name or in anonymity. Let us and others like you know how you really feel.

NYDT.

We Want Water Not ZINWA!!!!

It is both a scientific and natural fact that “Water is life”, “Amanzi ayimpilo” and none of us would exist today without the presence of this precious resource. While all care has been taken in the past to provide adequate and clean drinking water for the residents of Bulawayo, the situation has gone too bad to be stretched any further nor left to mother nature to solve.
Bulawayo, which now has a population of over a million people, had its last dam, the Insiza, constructed by a colonial government in 1976 when its population then stood at around 250 000. Surely, it is more than evident that given the challenges this region faces almost seasonally as a drought prone area, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has done exceptionally well in trying to keep it alive on the few supply dams thus far. However, these means have been stretched to their limits and the time for Plan B has come. The big question therefore is, what is Plan B ? Is it the Zambezi Water project? This unfortunately has become as much a pipe dream as hoping that the next Roman Catholic Pope will be from Zimbabwe. Is it The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). The BCC and Byo residents have given a thumbs down to this choice for the following logical reasons.
ZINWA was set up with the sole mandate of providing bulk water to local authorities who in turn would focus on the domestic supply of the resource. However, over night or over a Cabinet decision this obligation has changed making ZINWA responsible for the domestic supply of water and sewerage reticulation in urban councils. Records of ZINWA’s performance so far shows poor delivery of services in small towns, growth points and even in big cities like Harare and Victoria falls, where water flows through to the Indian Ocean.
It is the NYDT’s view that the BCC has not failed in its duties to warrant it being stripped of this responsibility that has also been a source of income in years past. NYDT stands with the rest of the Bulawayo residents to say NO to a ZINWA takeover of its water and sewerage reticulation system as this would lead to an even worse situation in terms of water supplies in the city. ZINWA has failed where there is an abundance of water, we expect no miracles in Bulawayo.
As youths, we feel that our fathers must hand over to us a legacy worth being proud of, a legacy worth passing on to our own children. Playing political games with this legacy is nothing short of irresponsible and unacceptable. People’s lives are at risk, the city is on its knees and we need better solutions to this century old challenge than recycling filthy water from the Khami Dam. WE WANT WATER NOT ZINWA!!!!!!!. Youths, Lend your voice to this important campaign by speaking you mind.

Miss Rural Zimbabwe

So much has been said of late on this issue that it would be unfair for us not to comment. Consequently we shall comment on the ZINWA issue after this one.

Miss Rural Zimbabwe has existed for more than three years now with little or no problems and complaints about what it stands for and the way it is run from Government officials. However since the live beaming on national television, in full view of children and visitors from other countries,of a hired musician from Botswana popularly known as Vee embarrassingly and disgustingly displaying to us what he thinks of the whole show, suddenly tongues are wagging, government is acting and officials are distancing themselves from the whole fiasco. Some officials in the tourism sector, which has sponsored this pageant in the past are saying they have nothing to do with it and they want the organisers investigated.

For those of you that missed the incident on ZTV this is what happened. During his performance Vee, of the Taku Taku fame called some girls on to the stage and with the help of some of his male dancers went on to perform dances that are nothing short of sexual acts on these helpless girls who were visibly shaken during and after the whole incident. A week or so later, Vee is back in his country with a fatter pocket, his image and that of his country still in tact while this country and its youths' images are in a fix again, never mind the fact that that whole show was in a bid to spruce it up.

Our question is, apart from Betty Makoni of the Girl Child Network, who from the on set explicitly expressed her displeasure at Mrs Sipho Mazibuko's experiment on the beauty and innocence of the rural girl, where were all these other voices that are now being heard complaining? Where were the Ministries that deal with the Youth,Gender, and Tourism? Surely when the first pageant was being broadcast live on ZTV a few years ago these sectors were wide awake and watching.

What makes it different now? Is it that the world saw it raw and because this was being done by a foreigner? because the sexual abuse on some of these girls has been taking place for years behind the camera. For how long will the youths and in particular the girls cry before action is taken. Would Betty Makoni's cries for an investigation into this issue have been echoed had those images not appeared on TV? We wounder!

We have no answers to these questions but hope that you can speak your mind on these issues. Do you think Sipho Mazibuko should be investigated?, Do you think the relevant Ministries are Partly to blame for this assault on the rural girl by taking so long to respond on the issue? Do you think there is talent to reap in placing our rural girls in the spotlight, on the ramp, in a drinking hall? Do you think there is talent to showcase in Modeling at all? if there is what is it and how can it help market our country. Remember, Zimbabwe does not have a monopoly of beautiful women, are there no better ways of promoting the nation without exploiting our youths in this manner.

Youths speak your mind. Click on Comment and a comments page will appear then tell us what you really think about this issue. Remember we should respect each other's opinions.

NYDT

Toast to the future

Board Chairman Mgcini Mike Nkolomi and the NYDT team making a special toast to the future of NYDT.

The future of Zimbabwe

Participants at an NYDT Youth forum meeting.

Youth Forum Panel

Presenters at an NYDT youth forum meeting ( from left to right) Xolani Zitha ( Deputy Director - Bulawayo Agenda), Dumisani Nkomo ( Executive Director - Habbakuk Trust) and Jack Zaba ( Programmes Officer - ZESN)

Youth Forum

A show of Talent

Rejoice Ngwenya a consultant and strategic Partner who assisted NYDT to come up with a three year strategic Plan Blue print

Strategic Partnerships

Synodia Makanza ( 2nd from right) attending an NYDT strategic Planning workshop at the Cresta Churchill in Bulawayo

The NYDT Team

NYDT Team after a successful Strategic Planning Workshop at the Cresta Churchill Hotel in Bulawayo

NYDT Director General (Sindiso Mazibisa- Standing) making a presentation during a Project proposal writting workshop at the Bulawayo rainbow Hotel. Sitting to his right is Mmeli Dube and to his left is Rodrick Fayayo both of whom are members of the technical team.

18th Amendment

Amendment number 18 to the Zimbabwean constitution has come with a lot of surprises especially to the organisations advocating for change in Zimbabwe.

Lets first look at some of its provisions.

Amendment 18 will:

i. Unify Presidential,Parliamentary,Senatorial,Mayoral, and Council elections. This means the lessening of the presidential term while it increases the number of members in the upper and lower houses of Assembly.

ii.Increases the number of members of Parliament from 150 to 210 and that of senate members from 66 to 93.

iii. Make way for the appointment of a Human Rights commission

iv. Change the title of the office of the Ombudsman to that of the Public Protector amongst other things.

v. Parliament will elect a Presidential successor to finish the term of the president who has suddenly died, resigned or be given a vote of no confidence.

The arguments making rounds are that while the unification of elections is most welcome and desirable it will cut down on government spending on tax payers money, the additional changes will add even more burden on the fiscus in that it increases the number of Upper and Lower houses of assembly members .The other changes are not urgent to the Zimbabwean crises which the amendment does not address, for example the fast declining health delivery system, the breakdown in the education system, increasing unemployment levels, high numbers of HIV/AIDS infections and related deaths and last but not least does not contribute much to the need for a wholesome overhaul of the present constitution.

While the amendment was passed unopposed into law, the major opposition party MDC factions state that a lot of changes were made to the original draft which allowed them to agree to it. Some of these changes include:

i. The holding of all elections at the same time instead of the council elections in January and the Presidential and Parliamentary in March which the MDC argues ZANU PF would want to use as a gauge for its support before the major elections.
ii. There shall be no presidential appointees, all members of the houses' of assembly will be elected by the electorate or parliament.
iii. The Human Rights commission will be elected by Parliament.
iv. Instead of the electorate going back to the polls to replace a President who still had sometime left in office, his successor will be elected on their behalf by the parliamentarians.

While this is yet another piecemeal alteration to the legal framework of the land, the opposition says it has been promised a brand new, people driven and democratic constitution before 2008 elections.

Meanwhile civic groups have cried foul and claim they are being left out of the processes for change which was initiated by SADC. They say they deserve a voice in the talks as ZANU PF and the two factions of the MDC are not fully representative of all the people of Zimbabwe and the country's problems are not purely political in nature.

Youths, please "Speak Your Mind"on the above issues by sending us your opinions.