I seriously do not think a new constitution will see the light of day before the next elections in Zimbabwe. The current constitution making process is unhealthily dominated by the politics of survival. The process is being led by political parties each of whom see it as a tool either for their survival or rise to domination.
As such the process can never be said to be people centred. It is politics centred.
It was always going to be a mission to draft a reasonable constitution in an atmosphere of furnace-like political rivalry. It is slowly becoming clear that it is a mission impossible.
A constitution that gives the MDC any perceived advantages will be objected to by Zanu-PF. A constitution that gives Zanu-PF
any perceived advantages will be objected to by the MDC. In my personal view the chances of these two parties perfectly agreeing on a constitution are next to zero.
I also think it is not a good idea to try and force constitutional changes in the current atmosphere of fierce political rivalry. Like the Lancaster House constitution which was rammed through primarily to end a war, the result will be deformed and imperfect.
Besides a constitution alone is not sufficient to make Zimbabwe right. The leadership and politicians need to have the right people centred spirit. Our politicians of today, have mostly a money centred approach. They have difficulty seeing anything beyond their pockets. They are in it to make their fortunes.
Great empires like the Munhumutapa Empire and the Roman Empire did not have constitutions yet they lasted for centuries. As long as the leadership approach is people centred, a state can prosper. If the leadership is selfish, oppressive and exploitative, even if you have a constitution written in gold letters on platinum foil it won't mean a thing.
The people at the forefront of the constitution making process today are focused on their political fortunes, not on the people's needs.
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