A Critical Analysis of Citizen Participation in the Constitution Making Process in Zimbabwe in 2008 to 2012. The case of Harare and Masvingo Provinces

Abstract

Zimbabwe went through a constitution making process which started in 2008 and ended in 2013 when the constitution was signed into law by the President. The process was led by a specially convened parliamentary committee and other civic society representatives. The committee solicited views of the public before a draft was produced after much deliberation. The problem identified by the study was that most post colonial constitution making processes failed to succeed hence the need to craft a process that would lead to the successful adoption of a new constitution. The study seeks to ascertain whether the process was people driven and the key features of the process which led to the successful adoption of a new constitution in Zimbabwe. Theories which guided the study included theories of citizen participation, constitution making and public policy. Qualitative techniques which were mainly used to gather data through interviews, document analysis and focus group discussions. The main conclusions drawn from the study were that the timing of the process was ideal as the Government of National Unity allowed people of different political persuasions to lead and participate in the process. Challenges such as poor participation in urban areas, repressive legislation, and divided civil society may have limited the benefits of a participatory process. The process provided learning points which can be harnessed in other developmental initiatives. The learning points included the benefits that can be accrued from having a balanced leadership and the advantages of strong coalitions. The recommendations were that civic education needs to be improved in Zimbabwe. In addition, mechanisms used to break deadlocks need to be promoted for national building. Civic society in Zimbabwe also needs to redefine its role in the governance discourse if they are to remain relevant.