adminregistered to vote. Any polling centre will do. If you really look at it, there is no real reason why someone should not participate in this poll.
That is why it is a bit worrisome that up until yesterday some people did not fully understand what was going on regarding the Referendum. While I do appreciate the fact that there was an inadequate amount of time set aside for educating people about what the Referendum is really about, judging from some of the comments I picked up from people this week, some who think we are actually conducting Presidential and Parliamentary elections today and others who think the country is conducting primaries; but I am also saying at some level, there is need for each adult to take ownership of that which affects them.
It is just like registering to vote. I was speaking to some close friends the other day and asking if they have registered to vote yet. One very sharp looking friend of mine then went on to say he was not going to bother because his single vote truly would not make a difference. He said he would go with whatever the majority would have decided.
Now it is that kind of thinking that I am against.
Why do we let others make decisions for us when we are capable of making them ourselves? Do we not know that it is that very spirit of letting others decide for us and make choices for us that sees some of us going through life discontented? Haven’t you heard some people constantly complain about how certain things are just not moving and how so and so is not the best person to represent their constituency and yet they would not have voted in the election? Why is it that we do not participate in things that affect us?
Take last weekend for example. A march was held by several women in protest at the growing incidents of sexual abuse. The march was also held to press for justice in the rape and subsequent murder or little Tsitsi Stacey Munjoma in Rugare. These women came together from their different homes and lives because they believed in a cause. They knew and believed that their participation would count for something.
But we all know there are people who never bother.
No matter how many times the march was publicised this type of person would just not make the time. They do not believe in participation. While the march might have seemed just like a march and not a big deal, truth is it stood for something. It stood for millions of Zimbabwean women who were saying enough is enough; women who were saying the men who rape and murder should be hunted down and pay for their sins. But some just ignored it. To them nothing clicked.
In workplaces these types of people exist too. When their colleagues get married, have babies or celebrate some achievement or other, they do not turn up. They do not appreciate the value of showing solidarity and support with those they network with on a daily basis.
Some only show up when the colleague has died; which is rather too late as the colleague will not be able to see them and appreciate their gesture. In church such people exist too. They do not join any cause or participate in anything, even if it is just standing up and singing or paying for something for the church to grow. They are just there, warming up benches as some pastors are wont to say.
There is need for a spirit of participation in us as a people. With participation comes ownership. Coming back to this important juncture that we are at as a people where we are choosing our new Constitution; there is real need to realise that this new Constitution is ours, it will govern the laws that will regulate us as a country. There is therefore real need for all of us to participate in the process that will see us either adopt it or not.
Leaving it in someone else’s hands is just not good enough. Now while I know some people have been saying they do not understand enough about the contents of the Draft to make a choice and voting would simply be choosing what someone else has told them to choose, through radio spots or advertisements, my challenge is it is not too late.
We have to like reading.
There are several places where we can have access to the Draft. Lets us read it and ensure that our voices are heard. Some uncle of mine was telling me in jest that he thinks all women must go and Vote Yes because the Constitution empowers (his exact words were it favours) women. I laughed with him but then afterwards I decided to ask around from the women to find out what they understand of the draft and to say I was disappointed is an understatement. I was shocked.
Some said it was just too technical and they could not be bothered. I explained that I had seen some simplified versions and they had made better sense to me.
But one of them clearly said she just wasn’t interested. She said as a woman, she had better things to do with her weekend. People, we have some people who do not or cannot participate in certain processes, because of genuine reasons such as being illiterate, being unable to understand English or suffering from some form of handicap, which we hope was all addressed before today; but if your only excuse is that you are a woman therefore do not have to take part in certain processes, you better change that mindset. Women today are rising to occupy top positions in every sector but to get there one has to participate. One cannot be lazy to read and google, things that impact on one’s life.
That is just not good enough. Some children have told their parents in not very kind tones to shape up in terms of participation at their schools because the last time these parents would have participated in their child’s school is when they are looking for a place.
Once they get it, they never make time to attend fun days, consultation day, races or any activity.
That kind of thinking has to go. If you do not participate, you have no justification to complain when something you do not like happens. If you do not participate, others will make choices for you. If you do not participate, you cannot claim ownership of something. If you do not participate, you cannot make a difference.
Food for thought!
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