Mavambo geared for elections this year

Dr Makoni castigated the Constitution making process saying it has turned out to be a cash cow for few individuals.
He said this in an interview on the sidelines of the International Women’s Day commemoration organised by his party in Highfield yesterday.
“We are building the party and we will contest in the next election,” said Dr Makoni.

“We want to contest in all elections but there will be a convention to elect a party leader.
“It is not automatic that the current leader will be the candidate.”
The 2008 presidential election candidate said there was need to have reforms before polls could be held.

Asked what his party’s views were on the current constitutional-making process, Dr Makoni said it has now turned out to be a fundraising activity for a few individuals at the expense of the suffering majority.
“It’s a wasteful, unfocussed exercise dealing with trivial issues.

“It could have been done quicker and at a lesser cost if the intention was to produce a constitution and not for some people to make money,” he said.
Earlier Dr Makoni had addressed a handful of predominantly women saying his party was pushing for a 50-50 representation for women in decision-making positions.
“Our political party respects gender equality, not just in the context that it is provided for by the constitution.

“What we want in our party is that in every activity or organ there will be equal representation.
“Some political parties talk of 30 percent quota or 25 percent quota but we want 50 percent representation for women.

“We might not achieve that now because of some obstacles but it is important that it is put on record that is our objective,” said Dr Makoni.
The commemorations were attended by representatives from Women in Politics Support Unit, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and children’s homes.

All the representatives took turns to call for women empowerment saying Zimbabwe was lagging behind in the implementation of Sadc Protocol on Gender Equality.

ZCTU representative Ms Tecla Masamha urged the Government to declare the International Women’s Day a public holiday.
A woman with 34 orphans at her Norton home, Mrs Bybet Gondo gave a heart-rending testimony of how she grew up while being subjected to ill-treatment by her stepmother.