Constitution, the people’s values

as a cat­alyst of individuals’ self-interest, neither that of political parties.
But with Zimbabwe this has proved fatal and unattain­able due to the fact that the constitution-making process has seen Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations hag­gling on issues that are not supposed to be haggled on.
This, I think, has been precipitated by imperialist ele­ments that still think they can do whatever they deem necessary with Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is a sovereign country and, as such, its con­stitution must be sovereign and independent in every aspect. What this means is that our constitution should be free of any alien influences or any out­side elements.
This is precisely what those in the MDC are failing to realise and what those in Zanu-PF are trying to educate the nation on.
A constitution is for the purpose of governing the pres­ent generation and the future ones, but with an illumina­tion of past generations and embedded in our history. The present and future generations being Zimbabweans who revere their past genera­tions together with their his­torical legacies.
Our historical legacy, whether one likes it or not, is based on the First, Second and Third Chimurengas and their continued influence. I say all their continuation is because although it is agreed that the Chimurenga is now in its third stage, there are some of us who believe that it is now in its fourth stage.
Going back to the point, the constitution must rein­force and supplement our struggles rather than reverse and reject them.
Zimbabweans should come up with a constitution that promotes the gains of all these Chimurengas, which are a major source of the values we believe in as a nation. Be it socially, politically or economically our values as a nation are embedded in the struggles starting from Mbuya Nehanda up to the last patriotic Zim­babwean.
It is, however, very disheartening to see the rate at which we disagree on the very law that must be a beacon of our own hope as a nation. Instead of disagreeing in order to agree, we are tearing our nation apart due to the fact that what­ever Zanu-PF suggests, the MDC’s will then have — in that same Zanu-PF suggestion — some­thing to refute.
The truth is that Zanu-PF has managed to identify with the people’s views, yet the MDC formations are arguing for the sake of pleasing their foreign masters.
This has seen the Copac draft constitution provid­ing a battlefield for the main political parties in the country and, thus, ignoring actual people’s views. A constitution should be free of political affiliations because there are some who are not even politi­cally affiliated.
Given the fact that a constitution is not only for the generation drafting it, but for future generations as well, the present generation should not allow politi­cal motives to ruin the making of the constitution, because 50 years from now MDC or Zanu-PF might not be existing. But what I am very sure of is that Zimbabwe’s values seen or realised in our Chimurengas, will still exist.
As such, let those in the MDC know and under­stand that this constitution is not meant as a regime change apparatus but as a safety valve to our historical values as a nation. This constitution must not be taken by Rhode­sians who falsely deceive themselves by thinking that they can use the document to reinvade the land, which is, rightfully, ours.
The constitution must make it clear that all land in Zimbabwe is for black Zimbabweans and no white per­son is and shall ever be compensated on an issue relat­ing to land.
Zanu-PF has shown the way, and this is what should guide us as a people in cementing our liberation struggle that was spearheaded by the need to regain our land that was thieved by the same very white people who would want to reverse our struggle.
What is the essence behind a constitution refusing a Zimbabwean president not to campaign because he has already enjoyed power? The constitution must not oper­ate in reverse but must go forward and start to apply from the day of its commencement.
President Mugabe should rightfully campaign and be limited only and only if he has completed the two terms being promulgated by the new constitu­tion has ended. It is not for the constitution to then refuse the right from its very commencement. After all, no law operates in reverse.
The constitution should uphold the aspirations of Zimbabweans in their totality and not provide a platform for us to despise each other. To any Zimbabwean with a modicum of under­standing, if we fail to agree on our own laws or constitution, are we going to ever agree on any­thing else?
Why not learn from the Americans who, although they might have differences, when it comes to their con­stitution, they speak with one voice.
Was it not Jesus who warned us that a nation divided among itself will not stand and for sure if we continue haggling about this constitution, we will not stand. Let us have differences, but they should not hinder our progress and development as a nation.
Zimbabweans united we will overcome, but divided we shall fall.

The writer is a BA in Philosophy and History stu­dent at the University of Zimbabwe.