VOA标准英语2009年-Crisis For Zimbabwe's Constitution Making

Zimbabwe's human rights lawyers are considering pulling out of participation¹ in drafting a new constitution because they say more than 40 percent of the delegates are politicians while civil right activists² and other non governmental organizations make up a small minority of the 4,000 delegates. Most of those who have fought a long and hard struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe say they now believe the process of drafting a new charter is a farce³.

Irene Petras, director of Zimbabwe Lawyers' for Human Rights says her organization has found that more than 40 percent of the delegates are politicians or belong to strongly politically aligned⁴ organizations. In addition, she says this figure does not include delegates who are also civil servants.

Zimbabwe's constitution talks on Monday were violently disrupted by militant⁵ backers of President Robert Mugabe. They resumed Tuesday with calls for tolerance⁶ in work on a charter meant to pave the way to fresh polls.

The state media, including the only daily newspaper and only radio and television stations, all loyal to ZANU-PF, blamed civil rights activists for Monday's disruptions.

Petras said neither rights lawyers, nor any of the many non governmental organizations were consulted about the appointment of the two people chairing the conference, both leaders at government universities.

The conference was meant to form committees and infrastructure⁷ for countrywide consultations⁸ with Zimbabweans to draw up a new constitution.

A leading member of a civic⁹ rights group who declined to be named and who sat through proceedings¹⁰ Tuesday, said the environment was hostile. He said any discussion critical of President Robert Mugabe's nearly 30-year rule, during general discussion about constitutional principles, was not allowed.

Another delegate who asked not to be named, said funds provided by the finance ministry¹¹ and other donors¹² were likely to be cut off as a result of no progress made in drafting a new charter.

Constitutional affairs minister Eric Matinenga said Wednesday he "could not pretend" there were no "difficulties and problems," but he said it was not time yet to walk away and said he believed something useful could yet be "salvaged¹³."

ZANU-PF justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa, also closely involved in the constitutional writing process, was not available for comment.

Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party wants the new constitution to be based on a draft drawn up in 2007, but critics say it gives the president too much power

1 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

2 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》

3 farce   

n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹

参考例句：

• They played a shameful role in this farce.他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。
• The audience roared at the farce.闹剧使观众哄堂大笑。

4 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。

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

10 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

11 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

12 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 salvaged   

（从火灾、海难等中）抢救（某物）( salvage的过去式和过去分词 )； 回收利用（某物）

参考例句：

• The investigators studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage. 调查者研究了从飞机残骸中找到的黑匣子。
• The team's first task was to decide what equipment could be salvaged. 该队的首要任务是决定可以抢救哪些设备。