VOA标准英语2009-Zimbabweans Launch Process for New Constitut

Hundreds of Zimbabweans from political parties, civil rights organizations, churches and ordinary citizens gathered Wednesday for the first public hearings towards a new constitution organized by the transitional four-month-old government of national unity¹. There were mixed reactions when the multi-party steering² committee of legislators kicked off the process by explaining timelines and the process to achieve a new constitution.

About 1,500 people gathered at a Harare conference center and heard speakers from the majority Movement for Democratic Change party, MDC, and the rival Zanu-PF party say that the process will be people driven and that ordinary voices will be more important than those of legislators in drawing up a new constitution.

Kariba draft constitution

The only daily newspaper, which is the pro³ Zanu-PF, the Herald⁴, carried a supplement to coincide with the first hearing. It contains a draft constitution written in a hurry in 2007 and known as the Kariba draft constitution. Zanu-PF says this draft is its constitution of preference and it retains enormous powers for an executive president. It was the Kariba draft which President Robert Mugabe, who belongs to the ZANU-PF party, refused to allow to be passed into law ahead of last year's elections won by the MDC.

There was a jovial⁵ and relaxed mood among many delegates, but important civil rights activists⁶ boycotted⁷ the launch because they say the process is controlled by politicians.

Lovemore Madhuku, who leads the National Constitutional Assembly said that he will not be involved in constitution writing because legislators, not the people, will drive the process.

"Legislators said public hearings were being held in other centers around the country, and that the process will take about a year to finalize⁸ before a draft constitution will be tested by a referendum," said Madhuku.

Optimism meets skepticism

Many of those attending the first public hearing were hopeful and optimistic, others were skeptical⁹.

Churchman, Reverend Joseph Katife said it was a great day for him as the people would be involved in producing a new constitution.

"It was good, because we have the time to communicate with the constitution itself, to play a part in the constitution," he said. "I am going to be part of writing that constitution."

Wonder Muvandi, a former policeman from eastern Zimbabwe, says that parliament will produce the constitution and not the people and that the first hearing showed few Zimbabweans even understand what the word constitution means.

"The way they are handling the whole process is improper¹⁰. They should have started off by educating the people first about what the constitution is," said Muvandi. "People do not know what a constitution is. The constitution making process is going to be very chaotic¹¹, it's not going to be in line, and this will end up by parliament itself, on its own will come up with a constitution for the people."

Some fear political manipulation

The few hundred remaining white farmers who survived Mr Mugabe's nine year campaign against them say they have suffered more harrassment, invasions and arrest since the establishment of the inclusive government.

Deon Theron, vice¹² president of the Commercial Farmers' Union, says he fears there will be political manipulation of the constitution making process.

"What is going to be the political influence on this whole thing, that is everyone's concern, they keep saying it's going be people driven and the people will decide, but if you look at the process at the back of your mind you can still see the loopholes," Theron said. "Today we have got our first get together and everyone is sitting with the Kariba draft in front of them because it was in the papers today. Is that a coincidence? Of course it is not."

MDC speakers received the most applause of all speakers at the first hearing, but not all those who attended are politically aligned¹³.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

3 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

4 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

5 jovial   

adj.快乐的，好交际的

参考例句：

• He seemed jovial,but his eyes avoided ours.他显得很高兴，但他的眼光却避开了我们的眼光。
• Grandma was plump and jovial.祖母身材圆胖，整天乐呵呵的。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

8 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

9 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

10 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

11 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

13 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。