DEBATE around the formation of a transitional authority to oversee Zimbabwe’s administration will this month take centre stage as the Platform for Concerned Citizens (PCC) plans national and regional conferences to discuss the issue.
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
In a statement yesterday, the PCC also waded into the storm around comments attributed to Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, that seen to have rattled opposing Zanu PF forces angling to replace President Robert Mugabe.
“At the meeting held on August 13, it was agreed that the PCC would facilitate a national consultation of all stakeholders on September 15 and 16, 2016, which will be followed by a regional consultation in South Africa on September 22 and 23, 2016. The former will be wholly national in participation, while the latter will bring together the task force elected by the national consultation, the Diaspora, regional and international stakeholders,” the PCC said.
Chiwenga, in the run-up to the Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day holidays, was quoted by the State media as having declared that the military would continue to have a say in the politics of the country. The PCC scoffed at the comments as well as government’s ill-advised ban on certain basic foodstuffs imports from South Africa and the deteriorating rights situation in the country.
“Without going into detail, the unconstitutional threats against citizens by the commander of the army, the harassment of citizens peacefully expressing their opinions, the continuing and unaddressed economic crisis and the potential for a conflict over trade with South Africa are matters of deepest concern to all,” the PCC said.
According to one of the conveners of the PCC, Ibbo Mandaza, the group is a “loose coalition of like-minded” Zimbabweans concerned about the unfolding political situation in the country.
“We need to stress the fact that this will remain an initiative of private citizens, as the name suggests, and we have done so out of our concern over the parlous state of affairs in the nation. The PCC will not transform into an institution, least of all a political party,” Mandaza said.
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Mandaza said the gathering in Harare would include political parties, the Church, civic society across the board, Diaspora representatives, women and youth while the South African conference would bring together interest groups including from the European Union, the United States, Canada and Australia.
According to the statement, Mandaza and his co-convener Tony Reeler will not be part of the envisaged National Transitional Authority. Other members of the PCC include media magnate Trevor Ncube, prominent preacher Shingi Munyeza, rights lobbyists Brian Kagoro, Elinor Sisulu, Judith Todd, Rudo Gaidzanwa, Thoko Matshe and academic Derek Matyszak, among others.
