Democratic United Front for a People-Driven Constitution (DUF)

The People of Zimbabwe, now is our time! The right to write a constitution is a fundamental and
inalienable human right as affirmed in the Zimbabwe People’s Charter. Only the people themselves can
write their own constitution through a democratically elected Constitutional Assembly and not politicians
through Parliament as under Art. 6 of the GPA. Parliament is the child not the mother of a constitution.
The people have suffered for too long. The people are hungry! Over 70 social movements, organisations
and trade unions, organised under DUF are spearheading the fight for a constitution-making process
which is: democratic, participatory, gender-balanced, people-driven and reverses the past attacks by
neoliberal, free-market, capitalist, patriarchal and political authoritarian structures on ordinary people,
women and democracy. DUF says no to the neoliberal STERP (ESAP 2) of the GNU but calls for a
welfare state. DUF is not a political party but a constitutional alliance comprised of all progressives
regardless of political party affiliation, DUF`s position is that people should join the current
constitution-making process, but under protest and pull out of the process should the following
demands not be met and mobilise for mass resistance against the fake process.
• THE PEOPLE demand a constitution written and adopted by themselves through democratically
elected and gender –balanced representatives, including from the Diaspora, in a democratic
Stake-Holders Conference and referendum, and not one written by politicians through the Select
Committee, Parliament or Parties. Parliament MUST not amend the draft constitution.
• THE PEOPLE demand, that a new constitution must include legally enforceable and state funded
socio-economic rights for workers, women, the unemployed, disabled, traders-informal sector,
residents, youths, children, liberation war veterans, ex-detainees, chimbwidos, mujibhas, health-
AIDS/HIV, education, water, housing, transport, land & rural development
• THE PEOPLE demand that the country’s natural resources and wealth, including ngoda
(diamonds), gold, platinum and strategic businesses producing basic and essential goods be under
public and democratic control and not be privatised or commercialised but be used to fund the
socio-economic rights of the people. Cancel all odious debts and use the money to fund
education, food, health and social security. Zimbabwe is not for sale to the rich and politicians!
It’s our country too!
• THE PEOPLE reject a constitution-making process based on the Kariba Draft Constitution
because: it was written secretively by 6 individuals; it over-protects the private property of the
rich whilst excluding the rights of the poor, especially socio-economic rights; it retains the
undemocratic executive presidency and is a duplicate of the rejected 2000 draft constitution.
• THE PEOPLE demand a constitution that guarantees full political democracy including: free and
fair elections under the new constitution; separation of powers; elected officials subject to votes
of recall; participatory democracy; truth and reconciliation based on transitional justice against
human rights perpetrators and compensation for victims; an end to the executive presidency; a
democratically accountable judiciary; decentralisation of power to provinces and local
authorities; gender parity in all decision-making positions; rights to vote and dual citizenship for
the Diaspora; the full rights of citizens to: strike, boycott, demonstrate, petition, assemble and to
defend their rights and the Constitution by all means necessary.
Nothing for Us Without Us! Our Country is not for Sale! Another Zimbabwe is Possible! It’s Our
Country Too!Penga Murombo! Qina Myanga! The People Shall Write Their Own Constitution!

Join DUF now! e-mail at: alliance.constitutional@gmail.com; or Tel. 04 – 704209 or Cell/ 0912908847