Lessons on Constitutional Implementation from South Africa

Yes, we got a new constitution on August 27th 2010, and yes, we are struggling with the implementation ... with an unwilling Parliament ( which actually is not a Mosque or a Church ...quoting Ababu, and therefore has no way of enforcing morality... a vicious group of the LORDS of impunity, and to cap it all, a populace that has not understooooood the document, its spirit, its implication: the only thing that people were clear about is that they needed one, a new one, one that captures what they may want to call their aspirations...a nd indeed it does, by and large

so i went to this national conference, and there he was, Hon Mohammed Bhabha, a South African politician who shared the following lessons:

1. politicians come and go, and so we should ensure that they do not hold us at ransom



2. the strength of institutions is primary...all our efforts should be there



3. we should ensure a independent and impassionate electoral management body



4. the demarcation process should be above board...citizens should not perceive, be witnesses to or be victims of gerrymandering



5. the judiciary should be independent ...presidents should be able to comfortably go to court to seek justice



6. we should do everything to avoid interference by politicians



7. civic education should not at any time relay information that there is a problem with the constitution ... every constitution provides for a mechanism to redeem itself



8. develop and sustain a consistent national morality (drawn from the values) and use it to measure all aspects of governance



9. do not remove protections that favour others today, they may favour you tomorrow



10. make all efforts to ensure that the people take ownership of the constitution



11. the constitution must be used to protect citizens from the practice and use of power

Phew! sounds like the eleven cardinal principles, but well ... damn good

Haraambeeee!