29.04.2011
Prime Minister Raila Odinga today called on the people of Zimbabwe to push for changes to the constitution to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in future.
Mr Odinga said electoral reforms that ensure respect to the institutions of democracy and a level playing field were critical if the country was to avoid chaotic polls similar to those held in 2008.
Addressing the Third Congress of the Movement for Democratic Change party in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Mr Odinga asked the party to be part of the reform movement taking roots across Africa and help transform Zimbabwe for the better.
Mr Odinga however asked the MDC to embrace the spirit of tolerance and give and take to ensure there is no paralysis in government.
He said that even as the MDC prepares for next elections, it must also remember it is part of the government, with a responsibility to help deliver services to the people.
“You will have to dig deep into your reservoirs of tolerance and compromise to ensure that this happens, for the alternative would serve neither the MDC nor its partner in government. It would only cripple the nation,” the PM said.
He said making compromises is not easy in a coalition, but it has to be done, adding that it has helped Kenya make steps forward.
“I know it is not easy. But we in Kenya, having reaped a harvest of chaos and death after our disputed 2007 elections, have managed to make useful strides forward. Our Grand Coalition government promulgated a new Constitution last year and is in the process of enacting every part of it. It has not always been an easy alliance, but the spirit of give and take has so far allowed us to make it work,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Odinga held talks with Zimbawe's President Mr Robert Mugabe at State House Harare, where they discussed possibilities of Zimbabwe borrowing from the Kenyan experience to overhaul its constitution.
President Mugabe said his country had always learnt from Kenya, listing the late opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki as some of the leaders he met in the earlier days of Kenya’s independence and who influenced Zimbabwe’s own struggle.
President Mugabe showed strong interest in political developments in Kenya, particularly the unveiling of the new constitution and said Zimbawe looked up to Kenya for a model in reforming the constitution.
He said Zimbabwe has always learnt from Kenya, from the liberation struggle to date, adding that he spent years studying the history of the Mau Mau war of independence.
President Mugabe invited Mr odinga to stay in the country for a longer period.
Mr Odinga said Kenya and Zimbabwe have links imposed by history and should together work towards reforms in politics.
Mr Odinga promised that Kenya would donate a book on constitution-making process to Zimbawe to guide the Southern African nation in its own quest for constitutional reforms.
The PM said the Kenyan process was extremely consultative and open and the country would be keen to share its experience with the people of Zimbabwe.
He said Zimbabwe has always learnt from Kenya, from the liberation struggle to date, adding that he spent years studying the history of the Mau Mau war of independence.
President Mugabe invited Mr odinga to stay in the country for a longer period.
Mr Odinga said Kenya and Zimbabwe have links imposed by history and should together work towards reforms in politics.
Mr Odinga promised that Kenya would donate a book on constitution-making process to Zimbawe to guide the Southern African nation in its own quest for constitutional reforms.
The PM said the Kenyan process was extremely consultative and open and the country would be keen to share its experience with the people of Zimbabwe.
form movement taking roots across Africa and help transform Zimbabwe for the better.
Mr Odinga however asked the MDC to embrace the spirit of tolerance and give and take to ensure there is no paralysis in government.
He said that even as the MDC prepares for next elections, it must also remember it is part of the government, with a responsibility to help deliver services to the people.
“You will have to dig deep into your reservoirs of tolerance and compromise to ensure that this happens, for the alternative would serve neither the MDC nor its partner in government. It would only cripple the nation,” the PM said.
He said making compromises is not easy in a coalition, but it has to be done, adding that it has helped Kenya make steps forward.
“I know it is not easy. But we in Kenya, having reaped a harvest of chaos and death after our disputed 2007 elections, have managed to make useful strides forward. Our Grand Coalition government promulgated a new Constitution last year and is in the process of enacting every part of it. It has not always been an easy alliance, but the spirit of give and take has so far allowed us to make it work,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Odinga held talks with Zimbawe's President Mr Robert Mugabe at State House Harare, where they discussed possibilities of Zimbabwe borrowing from the Kenyan experience to overhaul its constitution.
President Mugabe said his country had always learnt from Kenya, listing the late opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki as some of the leaders he met in the earlier days of Kenya’s independence and who influenced Zimbabwe’s own struggle.
President Mugabe showed strong interest in political developments in Kenya, particularly the unveiling of the new constitution and said Zimbawe looked up to Kenya for a model in reforming the constitution.
He said Zimbabwe has always learnt from Kenya, from the liberation struggle to date, adding that he spent years studying the history of the Mau Mau war of independence.
President Mugabe invited Mr odinga to stay in the country for a longer period.
Mr Odinga said Kenya and Zimbabwe have links imposed by history and should together work towards reforms in politics.
Mr Odinga promised that Kenya would donate a book on constitution-making process to Zimbawe to guide the Southern African nation in its own quest for constitutional reforms.
The PM said the Kenyan process was extremely consultative and open and the country would be keen to share its experience with the people of Zimbabwe.
He said Zimbabwe has always learnt from Kenya, from the liberation struggle to date, adding that he spent years studying the history of the Mau Mau war of independence.
President Mugabe invited Mr odinga to stay in the country for a longer period.
Mr Odinga said Kenya and Zimbabwe have links imposed by history and should together work towards reforms in politics.
Mr Odinga promised that Kenya would donate a book on constitution-making process to Zimbawe to guide the Southern African nation in its own quest for constitutional reforms.
The PM said the Kenyan process was extremely consultative and open and the country would be keen to share its experience with the people of Zimbabwe.
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