marble nkomo
Gibson Mhaka, [email protected]
THE nation is preparing to converge on the historic grounds of Maphisa in Matobo District, Matabeleland South province, for the 46th Independence Day celebrations, even as a profound revolutionary chapter is being written in town halls, community centres and schoolrooms across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.
The overwhelming success of the first phase of public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 is not merely a procedural milestone; it is a powerful preamble to the national celebrations.
It stands as compelling evidence of a politically mature electorate asserting its right to shape a destiny no longer dictated by external interests or static colonial relics, but by the urgent and material needs of its people.
For political analysts and the thousands who thronged consultation venues, the connection between these hearings and the upcoming Independence Day festivities is unmistakable.
While 1980 delivered political freedom and the right to self govern, the current constitutional process represents the perfection of that freedom.
It marks a transition from seeking liberation to securing development — a declaration that Zimbabwe’s independence is being harnessed to build a permanent, stable and prosperous home for future generations.
The heritage of choice: beyond the flag
Independence gave Zimbabweans the right to own their land, their resources and — most crucially — their laws. However, a constitution that remains rigid in the face of evolving national priorities is one that fails to serve its masters.
By participating in the hearings in record numbers, citizens are asserting that the Constitution must be a living document. The spirit of sovereignty was palpable throughout the consultations. Participants argued that the ability to amend the supreme law to suit national developmental goals is the ultimate expression of the sovereignty won on the battlefield.
As one elderly contributor in Bulawayo aptly put it: “Independence was not just about the right to vote, but the right to build a nation that works for its people. If our current cycles hinder the completion of dams, roads and schools, then we must reform them to ensure that the work of the Second Republic continues unimpeded.”
This perspective reflects a growing national consensus — that developmental continuity is now a prerequisite for true economic emancipation.
To celebrate independence in 1980 and then allow outdated legal frameworks to stall progress in 2026 would be a betrayal of the liberation struggle’s core tenets. This Bill, supporters argue, is about finishing what the heroes of the revolution began.
From the ballot to the brick: prioritising development
A recurring theme across provinces was a call to shift focus from “ballots and boxes” to “bricks and mortar”. Thousands of contributors expressed a desire for reduced election cycles and presidential term extensions to support long term infrastructure development.
The logic, they said, is simple yet profound: perpetual campaigning breeds volatility, and volatility undermines progress.
For grassroots supporters who have witnessed the impact of President Mnangagwa’s empowerment programmes, five years is often too short to fully deliver mega projects such as the Lake Gwayi-Shangani or the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway.
These are not merely engineering feats; they are tangible evidence of a free Zimbabwe at work.
“We are tired of starting projects only to be interrupted by the noise of elections every few years.
Developmental independence means having the stability to see a vision through from the foundation to the roof,” said a participant during the Bulawayo hearings.
By seeking to align electoral cycles with long term planning, the Bill is increasingly viewed as a strategic instrument for safeguarding the national interest. A state organised for development, proponents argue, is the highest expression of liberation.
The role of traditional leaders and national stability
The hearings also recorded strong support for clearer and stronger constitutional roles for traditional leaders. In rural communities, consensus was firm: traditional leaders are custodians of heritage and anchors of grassroots development.
Contributors argued that deeper constitutional integration of traditional institutions would reduce political volatility at local levels, creating peace and stability necessary for sustained development.
In the context of independence, this approach represents a return to indigenous governance models — rejecting rigid, imported democratic templates in favour of systems that resonate with Zimbabwean values.
A celebration of maturity in Maphisa
As Independence Day celebrations prepare to illuminate the skies over Maphisa, the success of the public hearings ignites a different kind of fire. It is the fire of a revolution that has matured. The transition from the “politics of protest” associated with the opposition to the “politics of development” championed by the Second Republic is now firmly entrenched.
The scale of participation underscores that, 46 years into self rule, the Zimbabwean spirit remains anchored in the conviction that national destiny must be shaped by the people, not by foreign diktats.
Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 is therefore not merely a legal adjustment; it is a declaration of confidence in national leadership and vision.
The “done deal” of progress
Despite persistent criticism, the reality on the ground suggests that the debate over these reforms is largely settled in the court of public opinion. Overwhelming grassroots support — from the backbone of the nation — has effectively sealed the Bill’s fate.
Claims of a “shrinking democratic space”, critics argue, ring hollow when thousands voluntarily attend hearings to demand more time for leaders to deliver development.
People have seen roads being built, clinics opened and mines commissioned.
They have experienced the tangible dividends of a development oriented state and show little appetite for a return to political instability synonymous with the pre Second Republic era.
Fidelity to the principle of evolution
As President Mnangagwa has consistently articulated: “Reform is not betrayal. Reform is fidelity to the principle that governance must evolve to meet the needs of the nation.”
As Independence Day approaches, Zimbabwe does so as a nation in motion.
The successful hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 demonstrate that freedom is not a static destination reached in 1980, but a continuous journey requiring renewal and refinement.
The work unfolding in community halls across the country stands as a tribute to the fallen heroes who rest at the National Heroes Acre and other shrines.
They fought for a Zimbabwe that would be master of its own house. By realigning laws to support development, citizens affirm that mastery — exercising sovereign will to ensure the sun never sets on the progress of the Second Republic.
The hearings serve as both reminder and promise.
A reminder that independence was won through courage and sacrifice. A promise that Zimbabweans are determined to perfect that freedom through a state capable of delivering stability, development and prosperity.
In essence, the consultations represent sovereignty in motion — a vivid demonstration that 46 years after independence, Zimbabweans remain deeply committed to shaping their destiny.
They affirm that the Constitution is not a relic of the past, but a living instrument for the future — guiding project completion, institutional strengthening and national growth.
Zimbabwe is firmly on the path to developmental independence, and Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 is seen as the critical and inevitable step along that historic journey.
Online Reporter