We, the People of Zimbabwe, After
deliberations amongst ourselves and with the full knowledge of the work done by
civic society organizations and social movements; With an understanding that
our struggle for emancipation has been drawn-out and is in need of a
people-driven solution
The Committee of the Peoples
Charter (CPC) on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of the Peoples
Charter, adopted on February 9 2008 as a guide by Zimbabwean social movements,
on a social democratic vision for the country, urges all Zimbabweans to stay
the course for a people centered and democratic nation.
http://peoplescharter.blogspot.com/2011/12/zimbabwe-peoples-charter.html
The historic document that is the
People’s Charter, as adopted at the Peoples Convention by 3000 delegates
remains a true reflection of the social democratic aspirations of the people of
Zimbabwe dating back to not only the liberation struggle but has become critical discourse
in our post-independence struggles for a social democratic state.
Twenty eight years after our
country’s national independence, in the face of mounting social, economic and
political decay, the students, the working class, churches and all sectors of
our society saw the need for a lucid statement outlining the minimal benchmarks
for reform and idealizing the future of Zimbabwe as outlined in the subsequent
document, the Peoples Charter.
For the past six years, the
Charter has not only been the basis but also the reference point for our demand
for socio-economic justice, political equity, gender equality, youth participation,
a transparent and accountable public service and democratic people driven
constitution reform
The three thousand delegates
(representatives of the social movements and civics, peasants, students, women,
business community, youth and the broad mass democratic movement) gathered at
Rainbow Towers Gardens, Harare on the 8th and 9th of
February 2008. The Peoples Convention, became a platform for the entire
Zimbabwean populace to record their demands so that they could be included in a
common document.
To this day, the Peoples
Convention remains the most representative gathering in the history of Zimbabwe
where the Peoples Charter, an idea for a cohesive, united, democratic Zimbabwe
was adopted.
The Peoples Charter establishes
a concrete vision for a new social democratic Zimbabwe in which the battle cry
for all Zimbabweans be they men, women
and the youth is that ‘’Zimbabwe belongs to all who live and believe it.’'
Zimbabwe
at 34
Thirty Four years after
independence, we have slid backwards in the areas of democracy, human rights,
socio-economic rights, for which we hold the ZANU PF government accountable. On
the socio-economic front the CPC notes with disappointment
o It must also be noted that Zimbabwe is yet to
comply with Article 4 of the People’s Charter which requires that our national
economy belongs to the people of Zimbabwe. The national wealth of our country
and the heritage of Zimbabweans have not yet been restored to the people. The
mineral wealth beneath the soil is not benefiting the people of Zimbabwe as
required by the Charter. It remains unfortunate that there is a spreading
culture of oligarchies that have held undemocratic sway over our economy
o the dilapidation of our country’s
infrastructure,
o absence of provision of free basic healthcare
o Absence of a comprehensive education policy.Despite boasting of a 92% literacy rate, we
have noted that education is now a preserve of the rich, disenfranchising
millions of young Zimbabweans of their right to education, which is however not
clearly spelt out in the new constitution
o
the absence of free low cost housing,
o
lack of access to clean water,
o
electricity
o
And the provision of sanitation
Political
Reform- A neglected step-child
The Peoples Charter clearly
sets out democratic changes required to enable all the people of Zimbabwe to
live in unity, enjoying equal rights and opportunities without distinction of
political affiliation or belief. It is a document that reflects the noble
objectives of the liberation struggle of the people of Zimbabwe for freedom,
unity and human dignity. As we commemorate these 6 years of the existence of
the Peoples document, we wish to express our concern over cases of rampant
state sanctioned corruption namely by parastatals bosses who in acts of self-aggrandizement
are awarding themselves hefty salaries and living opulent lifestyles at the
expense of lower ranks whose salaries are unrealistically low and service
delivery continues plummeting to the lowest levels.
Section (1) (i) of the Peoples Charter
clearly states that,
“All
people in Zimbabwe live in a society, which is the embodiment of transparency,
with an efficient public service and a belief in a legitimate, people-centered
state.
Reclaiming
the Future:
Those who have, for the past
six years, fought under the banner of the Zimbabwe Peoples Charter must remain
steadfast and resolute as the dawn of a new era nears with each passing day.
The CPC thus recommends to the government, civic society and social movements
and Zimbabweans at large that:
On
hefty salaries the (CPC) calls upon the government to launch an independent
commission of inquiry to investigate the rampant graft and self-enrichment
happening in all state institutions.
The issue of the constitution
is still a far cry Zimbabweans need to intensify calls for a people driven
constitution making process to rid the excesses and vagaries of the COPAC
constitution which retained the basis of an executive authority in the same manner
as the Lancaster House Constitution and the Kariba draft
The
Peoples Charter remains a legitimate and ideal document encapsulating the
visions and aspirations of the progressive movement and millions of
Zimbabweans. The ideals set out in the Peoples Charter can only be achieved if
the government commits itself to transparency accountability and respect for
the fundamental freedoms and liberties of the human person.
Zimbabweans and the
broader civics find themselves plunged in uncertain
times and disillusioned, the CPC reiterates that the struggle
for a people centered political and development paradigm is NOW
and continues to fight for the ideological strengthening of like-minded
social movements to align their programming to the very essence
of the founding principles grounded by its connection with the masses
and guided by the resolve of a social democratic state adopted
in February 2008.
The CPC shall continue to find its legitimacy
in the Pan African doctrine safeguarding against the dictatorship
of global capital in its programming and outlook - the people
must own its existence.
We
also demand that the government of Zimbabwe must immediately adopt the Peoples
Charter as the official policy document embodying the bona-fide demands and
aspirations of all sections of our Zimbabwean.
Today, we must take this
tradition forward. The Charter’s far-reaching demands are as relevant today as
they were six years ago when the Charter was adopted.
It is therefore
imperative for the people of Zimbabwe to stay focused on the important parts of
our struggle which are yet to be achieved as they are vital in the liberation of our people and in the
transformation their lives.
The struggle must continue until each of the 8
demands of the Peoples Charter are realized.
Issued by: Information
Department