Global Issues
ZIMBABWE: Constitution in the Limelight
A new play, Waiting for Constitution has generated great interest among politicians and civil society groups anxious to get consultations over drafting a new constitution under way.
The play, which premiered in Harare on Feb. 23, dramatises a family meeting where daughter Constance's impending marriage is to be discussed. But Constance does not appear. She's late: too busy taking part in a thematic committee preparing public consultations over the new constitution.
The performance uses the divisions in the family over Constance's marriage plans - like disagreements on how much should be charged as bride price, and who should pocket what fraction of the proceeds - to highlight competing positions that have emerged over Zimbabwe's new constitution.
'The play asks many pertinent questions, and also attempts to answer those questions on how to make the new supreme law a truly people driven one,' director Tafadzwa Muzondo told IPS. 'People still have questions on some key aspects of the process, and whether the input of ordinary people will be valued.'
'The play looks at such issues as who the people are, what sort of fundamentals and ideals make a democratic constitution, the importance of guaranteeing freedom of expression and the diverse opinions and ideas coming from different sections of society.'
Muzondo, a celebrated actor in Zimbabwe, says while it may not necessarily provide the answers, the play will provide a fresh platform for debating the issues. And the well rounded characters in the production do just that.
From the stage, Constance's feuding family raises questions over what's wrong with the present constitution, whether a new one is necessary, what led to the rejection of a draft constitution in 2000 and the prospects of achieving a people-driven constitution.
Douglas Mwonzora, one of the three co-chairs of the Constitution Parliamentary Committee - an inter party committee of members of parliament tasked with spearheading the process - was very optimistic the play would add a new dimension to the process.
'They (artists) have been of great use in revolutions, wars and other historic national developments. I believe such works of art like this play will play a key role in conscientising our people on the need for participation in this unique national project. It is very encouraging where you see artists bringing out products on the project.'
The writing of a new constitution is among the major tasks of the three parties in the inclusive government, the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) and two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The process has been delayed several times by lack of funding and disputes between the parties.
While the start of public consultations across the country has been delayed, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) sees the play as a fresh approach to begin stimulating thought and gathering the input of ordinary people; the coalition is partnering with the production's producers, Rooftop, to take it on a nationwide tour. The play will also be translated into local languages.
'It is not just about taking a play to the people, it is about taking the discussion about critical issues to the people,' said MacDonald Lewanika, director of CZC. 'We view theatre as a vehicle that can trigger debate on both the process and the content. What the play tries to do is to highlight the critical issues and processes. We try to do this in a non-prescriptive, non-partisan manner.'
Lewanika said the choice of theatre as a medium of influencing debate on the new constitution was based on the realisation that 'our society is not homogenous', hence the need to portray different messages differently. After a two week run of the play at Harare’s Theatre in the Park, the CZC will partner with the producers to get the play on a national tour.
'As civil society, our work basically is about engaging the people on issues that affect them. We are basically taking the discussion to the people. There are clear contested issues raised in the play around the process,' said Lewanika.
Waiting for Constitution is Chifunyise’s second play centred around current affairs issues. Last year, he wrote another play titled Heal the Wounds, which focused on the government’s national healing process, and the various issues around the project.
The current play is a candid and refreshing exploration of hot-button issues such as the participation of women in the process, disagreements of various proposed drafts, divisions that have rocked civil society because of the process, the coercion of people at the grassroots by different political parties, the participation of exiled Zimbabweans in the process, the composition of teams driving the process, and the rights of minority sexual groups.
There is high entertainment when family members discuss issues 'stipulated' in the various drafts, and how these will affect their traditional values. And when Babamnini, played by Silvanos Mudzova, walks out of the marriage meeting without any deliberations, it becomes clear to the audience how prudent it is for the process to be concluded quickly to allow people to concentrate on other essentials.
© Inter Press Service (2010) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service