The Sunday News
THE Government will soon conduct workshops to educate Zimbabweans on the new constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Cde Emerson Mnangagwa, has said.
Speaking to Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students during a public lecture on the topic: “Constitutional changes, social and economic future of the country” on Friday, Cde Mnangagwa said there is a need for everyone to understand the provisions of the new constitution which is an improvement from the Lancaster House constitution.
He said efforts have been made to translate the constitution into the country’s 16 official languages for the benefit of all Zimbabweans and 1,2 million copies of the constitution have been printed so far.
“Government will roll out a programme that will see my ministry visiting all districts educating people about the new constitution so that everyone knows what it means. We are also making efforts towards translating the document into other languages apart from English, Shona and isiNdebele. I am happy to announce that a Tonga version is being already worked on,” said Cde Mnangagwa.
“With resources permitting, we will move with haste and identify people with requisite skills to translate the document into all 16 official languages for all to understand its contents.”
He said it is Government’s duty to make sure every citizen has access and understands the constitution.
“Every individual should know what the constitution entails for easy implementation, hence the efforts towards translating the document into all official languages,” said Cde Mnangagwa.
He said the new constitution laid various duties, obligations and entitlements for everyone. He said it recognises the country’s values and fundamental principles to guide its implementation.
“A number of provisions that were not covered by the Lancaster Constitution are now in this people-driven constitution which if implemented by everyone, provides the basis of economic development.
“The scope of fundamental rights and freedoms has been widened and these include environmental rights, labour rights, right to food and water, right to health care and right to language and culture, to name but a few,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa who toured the new school of law at the university, the Herbert Chitepo School of Law, praised Vice-Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo for transforming the university within a short space of time after his appointment.
“I am happy that there is a law school introduced here. It is encouraging because we will keep having a new breed of lawyers. Law is a foundation of economic development and acts as guidance to where we are going and coming from.
It is good to have institutions where our children can train in disciplines of this nature. We want qualified lawyers to deal with legal issues and we need more institutions of this nature,” he said.
Speaking on the same occasion Prof Zvobgo said the school will be open to every Zimbabwean and beyond but it will provide an opportunity to the police and army.
“Everyone who has the requisite qualification as prescribed by the Law Society will be considered. However, let me hasten to say we are going to have members in the police and army training here. We are opening doors on 27 October and we are starting with 16 students,” Prof Zvobgo said.
