The National Constitutional
Assembly (NCA), has noted with disgust reports in the edition of the Daily News on
Sunday and on social media alleging that the NCA Chairperson was part of the
ZANU PF list of advisors at the just ended extra-ordinary session of the SADC
summit in Maputo, Mozambique.
The paper alleges on page 2
and the editorial comment on page 8, “At least 67 names for the ‘ZANU PF
delegation’ were listed at the Accreditation Centre, and included Lovemore
Madhuku, National Constitutional Assembly Chairperson, who was listed as a
‘legal expert,’ the article reads.”
The NCA wishes to make it
categorical that Professor Lovemore Madhuku was not in Maputo and never planned
to go there. We also wish to tell all Zimbabweans and solidarity comrades
across the globe who seeks the truth that the NCA has no inclination whatsoever
with ZANU-PF. Any suggestions to the contrary are fictitious and imaginations
which unfortunately seem to have become a day to day experience in our media
The articles are part of a
series of lies being peddled by some faceless online editions who cannot
stomach the NCA positions being articulated by its Chairperson Professor
Lovemore Madhuku and the entire leadership.
The article and the comment are themselves
proof that the standards of journalism have gone to the dogs in our beloved
country where people are allowed to publish hallucinations and dreams as facts.
It is not only morally wrong to misinform the readership, but smacks of total
disregard of the people’s right to correct and unbiased information.
The NCA calls on all
Zimbabweans to remain vigilant to the idea of a truly democratic country where
debates are civil, we call on the media to be vigilant in defending the ‘fourth
estate’ by being professional and checking facts and not to reduce themselves
to party activists. Theirs is a noble profession that society must trust.
We are unapologetic in the
position we made before the summit that elections must happen now, a position
which has not yet changed. The position which seems to have peeved those who
wish to have their egos massaged and invited attacks and vitriol for the NCA.
As the NCA we uphold and
respect the courts and that their decisions are binding until the decisions
have been reversed. The supremacy of our courts over anything outside the
boundaries of this country is a pillar that should not be traded for anything.
It is in this spirit that we
continue to respect the 31 July date set by the courts and complied with by the
President. Moving forward the country must work now for the spirit of that
judgement which is that the election must be free and fair.
As the NCA we reiterated that
we an independent entity, we are neither ZANU PF nor either of the MDC
formations as suggested by some elements in the media and sections in the civil
society.
We will be however lodging a
complaint with the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe with regards to this
issue.
No Retreat No Surrender!!
Asijiki!
Blessing Vava
Director of Information
Bumbiro/Isisekelo House
348 Hebert Chitepo Avenue
Harare
Zimbabwe
+263 773022456,+263 715273786
