Editorial Comment: Let’s heed President’s call, focus on economic empowerment

For the past four years, the country toiled giving birth to this document and Zimbabweans are expected to start enjoying the fruits this tedious exercise that was characterised by political bickering, back-biting and attempts by political players to outdo each other.

The beauty of it is we have a truly Zimbabwean document.
The parties in the inclusive Government have finally demonstrated political maturity beyond reproach. It is a clear statement to all citizens that there is more that unites us as a nation than what divides us. Indeed, that unity of purposes should be commended.

Now that the bickering is water under the bridge, the nation has to move on and conclude the remaining processes by conducting a flawless, free and fair election reflective of the maturity demonstrated during the pre- and post referendum periods in March this year.

Zimbabweans have demonstrated to the world before that they have the astute ability to solve internal political differences without the interference of foreigners, even our Sadc neighbours. Yes, neighbours can assist, but they can only do so much as the rest lies with the people of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has vast experience of solving internal problems and history bears testimony to the way the country dealt with the post independence differences in 1980 that culminated in the signing of the historic Unity Accord in 1987 between Zanu and PF-Zapu.

If our leaders, a majority of whom are still with us today, did it that time when we were coming from a devastating war situation, what stops them from using the same political acumen to deal with the current impasse?

Surely the nation should commend them, especially President Mugabe, for ensuring peace and tranquillity in the country during that trying time when the country was under siege from detractors who wanted to use this challenge to ferment squabbles.

Immediately after President Mugabe appended his signature to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (number 20) Bill on Wednesday, it was published in the extraordinary Government Gazette for it to come into force with some portions running concurrently with the old Lancaster House Constitution which will eventually be buried after the harmonised elections.

Now that the country cherishes the ushering in of the new Constitution, it is our hope that the Acts that are going to be promulgated are going to fortify the will and the wishes of the people who enthusiastically contributed their views during the Copac outreach programmes, met to deliberate during the all-stakeholders conferences and sacrificed their time to overwhelmingly vote for the new supreme national law.

The unity that was demonstrated during the beginning of the constitution-making process until Wednesday when the process was finally sealed should continue for posterity and be inherited by generations to come.

The parties in the inclusive Government have opened a new chapter in the history of the country’s constitutionalism and should religiously follow and conclude the remaining process of conducting the harmonised elections this year for these years of intense negotiations not to go down the drain.

It does not make political sense to come up with such a beautiful home-grown constitution that will by the end of the day fail to deliver a credible and uncontested poll result or a Zimbabwe that we want as citizens.

This Constitution that the three parties have just sealed is not just going to guide us into a new political dispensation, but will ring fence critical issues such as the future of land ownership in Zimbabwe.

Following the sealing of this new Constitution, the gallant sons and daughters of this country can now rest because there is no one, not even Government, that is going to reverse or dispossess the people of Zimbabwe of their birthright – the land.

Before any future Governments decide otherwise on the current land ownership patterns spearheaded by Zanu-PF Government, that position has to be put to a national referendum and Zimbabweans will not allow the reversal of the programme.
Long live our democracy.

Now that the constitution-making process is over, it is our hope that all national instruments will heed the President’s call and re-focus on rebuilding the country and strengthening the hard-won independence that was achieved after a protracted liberation struggle.

The political independence has been achieved and all efforts should be channelled towards ensuring economic empowerment for the majority of the previously marginalised Zimbabweans.