The political environment that is hostile to democratic engagement still exists. – Ozias Tungawara, Director of the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project on there being a misplaced perception that a Yes vote for the draft constitution will deliver a credible election. (on SW Radio Africa)

The clampdown on dissent that is being witnessed in Zimbabwe currently is entirely at odds with the expanded bill of rights proposed by the new constitution. – Noel Kututwa, Amnesty International.

Let me say something about the draft constitution. There is nothing wrong with it, nothing at all. – Robert Mugabe (Deutsche Welle online)

We are going into the referendum to vote for it because local political and traditional leadership have said we must vote ‘Yes’ and this is what we will do. We also like the document because it limits presidential term limits and this is something positive given where we are coming from. – Jack Jimu, Talking Harare, CORAH’s newsletter

We hear that our children will go to primary schools without paying anything and this is very positive. – Miriam Manjoro on why she is voting Yes in the Referendum, Talking Harare, CORAH’s newsletter

Whilst it is good that there is a new constitution, I do not think it is going to change anything because we have seen good laws in the country being ignored when it comes to implementation. For example we have seen people being arrested, detained for a long time and then discharged without charge yet the country’s laws prohibit this. What is needed is to have leadership that respects its people first and then everything will follow. – Stephen Murefu, on why he is voting No in the Referendum, Talking Harare, CORAH’s newsletter

This constitution did not come from the people, I think you still remember people were forced to attend the meetings and coached by politicians on what to say. Even after that, the so-called principals went on to make unilateral changes to what had come out and so clearly, this is not a people’s document. – Maxwell Marembo on the Referendum, Talking Harare, CORAH’s newsletter

The Referendum Polling Stations provisional list for on Kubatana has now been updated and covers the whole country! Specifically:

• Harare
• Bulawayo
• Manicaland
• Mashonaland East
• Mashonaland Central
• Mashonaland West
• Masvingo
• Matabeleland North
• Matabeleland South
• Midlands

Take a look so you know where to vote Saturday in Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Referendum.

Also, if you’re in Harare or Bulawayo, try our clickable maps for these provinces – just click on a shaded area of the map for a list of nearby polling stations near you.

From a subscriber:

Dear Kubatana Crew, The environment is peaceful here in Chikomba East & many people await tomorrow’s plebiscite. All the polling centres have received their ballot boxes & are manned by the police. Many people are promising & eager to go & vote tomorrow in the constitutional referendum despite the fact that some did not get the draft papers.Regards from Chikomba East.

The message for Zimbabweans from this pen is that every patriotic son and daughter of the soil should become a watchdog against these pikinini politicians among us who want to feel big by working for and being bankrolled by imperialist powers that want to keep a stranglehold on Zimbabwe politically and economically. – The Herald

The government does not seem interested in this referendum. They only want it rubberstamped so they can have elections. – Clifford Mashiri

All we want to say is that his (Tsvangirai) closeness to Mugabe has become a problem. – MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube

If the new constitution is to guarantee a free and fair election, there must be a political will by all the players. Without political baptism of the constitution, baptism by an observable change of our political behaviours, the whole exercise is futile. – Sondon Stalin Mugaradziko, the Secretary of International Relations in the MDC led by President Ncube

The words of the UN secretary-general, urging that last week’s Kenyan elections should be “credible and peaceful” have set a tone. No one is talking “free and fair”. If Zimbabwe’s referendum on Saturday is credible and peaceful, the UN, the Commonwealth, the southern African region and many others will breathe a sigh of relief. – Stephen Chan

An excerpt from an article by Stephen Chan:

In the meantime, the Law Society of Zimbabwe is right to say that there is something to celebrate in the constitution. It provides an expansive Bill of Rights with citizen capacities to enforce those rights in law. Gender rights are very visible. Powers are clearly separated to protect the courts. Such a constitution, with a government that observed it in good faith, would be workable and a massive improvement. But the question in today’s Zimbabwe is precisely to do with good faith.

More from Guardian African Network here

There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business.
- William S. Burroughs