The MDC Alliance has been accused by State media of plagiarising the South African Constitution in its SMART manifesto. However, some Zimbabweans on Twitter have pointed out that the MDC Alliance was actually using Section 194 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. They also argue that it is impossible to plagiarise constitutional provisions as it’s “modelling.”
Here is how some Zimbabweans responded.
Sometime last year we got a lead that Zimbabwe had plagiarised the Lesotho cybersecurity bill, it was a juicy story, Mugabe was allegedly planning a clampdown on cyberspace. We didn't publish it because we learnt of something called "modelling". Apparently it's common in law
— Nqaba Matshazi (@nqabamatshazi) June 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/dubbydacious/status/1006056300235587584
Herald saw a Varakashi allegation that MDC Alliance had plagiarised the SA constitution, but they forgot to check the Zim constitution. Case of hatchet job gone wrong?
— Nqaba Matshazi (@nqabamatshazi) June 11, 2018
It’s impossible to “plagiarise” constitutional provisions. The values in s194 must be etched on the hearts & lips of every Zim politician/public administrator. We have a constitutional obligation to implement, promote & uphold them. We EXPECT to see these in your manifesto! pic.twitter.com/XCq4AXoFKb
— Fadzayi Mahere🇿🇼 (@advocatemahere) June 11, 2018
So for 5 years Zimbabwe had a New Constitution and @HeraldZimbabwe have got a copy if not copies in their drawers, never bothered to read section 194 but woke up and say @MDCAllianceZW copied SA Constitution, like really?? What kind of a national paper is this now? pic.twitter.com/EfAPZRjY0c
— Tau (@Tau_Moyo) June 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/ginothesaint/status/1006092399070924800
The fact that MDC copied other good policy documents like RSA constitution means that they are SMART! you don't need to reinvent the wheel of good governance! I see Zanu trying to score a point with plagerism.. they miss the POINT that we will accept a Zimbabwe developing like SA pic.twitter.com/QZ1SIoBl1j
— K (@begottensun) June 10, 2018
The @HeraldZimbabwe is pathetic. Our principles of corporate governance are in fact derived from section 194 of the Zimbabwe Constitution which we happily used because it is our proud document .These principles both Zim and SA follow on the universal King s Report on C.G#GetaLife https://t.co/wfVqUU6MjU
— TENDAI BITI (@BitiTendai) June 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/joeblackzw/status/1006096708424609792
ZANU yamira pamganhu kunti ndii pamuganhu (singing)
Hatidi vanhu vanopererwa
Plagiarism of policy document? I believe the document was built and aligned with provisions of the National Constitution of Zimbabwe section 194. So the Zanu pf press is officially claiming that the Zimbabwe Constitution which they endorsed, was adopted from across the Limpopo.
ZIMBABWES LAW IS FOUNDED ON THE ROMAN DUTCH LAW WHICH IS THE SAME IN SA SO EVEN AFTER CHANGES ONE CAN STILL QUOTE OR IMPORT IT AS AN AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE. HOWEVER PLAGIARISM IS TAKING SOMEONE’S WORK AND PASSING IT AS YOUR OWN .AT LEAST IF SOMEONE COPIED EVEN A PARAGRAPH THEY SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE AND NEED I SAY THERE’S NO GENIUS IN THAT. ABOUT NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL SCHOLARS AND ACADEMICS KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A THEORY OR FORMULA YOU THEN DEVELOPE IT FURTHER SO WHAT THIS MEANS IF SOMEONE COPIES A MANIFESTO AND REPRODUCE IT AS SUCH THEY CANNOT CLAIM TO BE SMART BECAUSE THE PARAMETERS SURROUNDING THE ORIGINAL FORMULATION OF SUCH A DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS OUR SITUATION THIS WILL LEAD TO FAILURE. EASY WAY OUT OF COPYING OR NEED I SAY PLAGARISING MAY NOT BE THE BEST SOLUTION BE ORIGINAL THEN WE WE CAN BE PROUD OF YOU THANKS BUT NO THANKS
Jimalo, this SMART document is derived from our own constitution, so where is the plagiarism? ZANU reporters have not read our constitution and they are illiterate. We want change not stupid and silly sideshows when 14 million people are leaving in extreme poverty. Zimbabwe is now one of the poorest countries in the world and it has the most unhappy people in the world. This is not an academic exercise where we have to worry about the bibliography and the reference style whether its Havard or APA. Zimbabweans are not smart because we spend a lot of time discussion useless issues rather focusing on how to uplift the lives of the masses. 38 wasted years of much ado about nothing. Its not Chamisa who has destroyed this country, you should not be feeble-minded and concentrate on trivial issues. We will accept and still vote for Chamisa even if he plagiarized the manifesto. It is about our party not ZANU. Why do not spend time on the opposition rather than showcase what your party has done in 38 years since its has been rulling this country for 38 years.
Plagiarism or not is not a matter to me!what im looking forward is to see zanu pf pfeeeeeee in the political coffin come 30 july 2018
Why do you have to quote a section given in the constitution why not merely refer to it. Why did you not copy the whole constitution?