NCA: Justice Minister Chinamasa Must Stop Insulting NGOs
Jonga Kandemiiri
WASHINGTON DC —
The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) says comments by Zanu-PF deputy legal secretary and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa over Non-Governmental Organizations and their role in voter education in the country are dangerous and could see independent groups being targeted by overzealous party supporters.
Addressing a Zanu-PF rally in Harare Sunday, Chinamasa urged party supporters not to allow so-called “outsiders” to conduct voter education saying they will be politically misled.
Chinamasa said: “Most non-governmental organizations have got hidden agendas hence the need to exercise caution.”
But NCA chairman and University of Zimbabwe lecturer, Lovemore Madhuku, said Chinamasa’s statements are inflammatory, adding politicians should watch what they say as the country heads towards a constitutional referendum and crucial general polls.
The NCA is campaigning against the adoption of the current draft constitution claiming that it was a negotiated process instead of a people-driven exercise.
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF party and the MDC formations of Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Industry Minister Welshman Ncube have already started urging their supporters to vote in favour of the draft constitution in the forthcoming constitutional referendum.
