NYDT conducts Constitutional Feedback Meetings

The National Youth Development Trust conducted Constitutional feedback meetings in Makokoba (Wards 7 and 8) and Sizinda (Ward 21). The meetings were chaired by the local youth councillors and facilitated by Godwin Phiri of Intscha.com, who took the youths through the constitution making process as a way of putting them into perspective. The background of how the new constitution came to be became a crucial foundation before delving into the actual contents of the Constitution since some young people had not participated in the processes at all.

One of the key issues discussed in these meetings was the lack of harmony between provisions in the new constitution and other laws and practises of various institutions. The young people indicated that some provisions in the constitution are yet to benefit Zimbabweans because no mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that they become fully functional and effective. An example given was that of the right to education that is guaranteed in the constitution yet school going children and students are still being chased away from school for failure to pay school fees.

The rights to freedom of association and assembly were also said to be compromised by the provisions in the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the way it is being implemented by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

“I do not see the point of saying I have a right to freedom of association and assembly if I will still get arrested for convening a meeting without getting cleared by the Police first. This simply means my ability to enjoy that right depends on whether a police officer somewhere wants me to  enjoy it or not. So basically that right is not guaranteed,” said Hope Sendamayi Ward 8 Youth Councillor.

The young people also highlighted that some government offices remain inaccessible to young people because they are poorly advertised. The Public protector’s office was said to be one of them as most youths in the meeting had no idea about its existence or its functions. As such it became evident that they were not benefiting from the services offered by the office of the Public Protector, formerly the Ombudsman.

In addition, the young people showed little understanding on the different roles of the various courts and hence the facilitator took time to explain these to them. The general concern amongst young people was that the country’s laws and constitutional provisions were not being explained to the general populace and as such were only known and understood by lawyers, activists and a few professionals only.

“It is as if these rights are meant to be enjoyed by a few elite because in many cases our rights are violated and we do not even know it because we are not aware of what the constitution entails,” said Viola Bango from Sizinda. 

The move to bring the constitutional feedback meetings to the communities by the NYDT was therefore commended as a crucial step towards bridging the information gap that exists between the elite and ordinary Zimbabweans.

The NYDT is currently embarking on a project to promote knowledge of the new constitution amongst young people. This is done through constitutional feedback meetings at a ward level and leaving copies of the constitution with focal people in those wards to make it accessible to them anytime. It is expected that once young people know their rights they will be able to enjoy them.