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carter for the interests of the neo-imperialists.
The stance taken by those in the revolutionary party (Zanu-PF) has been attacked left, right and centre by those in the two MDC factions.
The major reason for such attacks is that the document serves well the shallow and myopic interests of these two political parties which are hell bent on regime change, enriching themselves through donor funds and in the process facilitate neo-imperial interests in Zimbabwe.
It is a fact that there is nothing people-centred in this donor-funded document as a careful analysis of some of the clauses actually shows a very sinister motive of trying to undermine the authority of the executive and the functions of the security sector.
They are also bent on demeaning the liberation struggle and creating havoc in the media. They erroneously want to give non-state actors more power over the executive, which is by all standards utopian in the international system and so on.
It is with a deep sense of regret that these two MDC formations are quite content with a document that is a total betrayal of the values, beliefs and norms of Zimbabweans of all walks of life, regardless of their political affiliation.
Professor Madhuku openly criticised the document arguing that it had totally negated what the majority of Zimbabweans said.
The same argument has been put across by many progressive pan-Africanists who strongly believe that the people’s input during the Copac outreach programme should also take centre stage.
In March, we pointed out that political elites had hijacked the people’s views making the whole constitution-making process a political party centric document.
The crux of the matter is that the draft has become foreign in the true sense of the word.
Can it be referred to as a national constitution if it is not a reflection and guarantor of the wishes of the Zimbabwean common men and women? It is therefore more refreshing that Zanu-PF is arguing that they will only endorse the document if what the masses suggested is taken on board.
Most ordinary Zimbabweans we have so far interviewed have raised the argument that the first document was not a true reflection of the wishes of the people. It is therefore not surprising that they are in doubt if the current draft being debated by politicians has any relevant and significant changes to it.
Arguably, it has become apparent that the Copac committee wantonly decided to abuse the trust and confidence invested in them by the whole Zimbabwean society.
They have dismally failed to be responsible national leaders (like the Zanu-PF and Zapu leaders who led Zimbabwe to independence) who are accountable and committed to nation building.
A constitution must be “the ultimate repository of the people’s wishes and will. A national constitution must be an expression of faith by Zimbabweans in themselves as the main factor in determining their own affairs and their destiny.
A constitution must therefore draw its strength from the political experiences of the nation which has been constructed from many events and experiences, some of them at times painful.”
The above view connotes that a nation’s constitution is nothing more than an innate blueprint of regulations on which the organisation and rule of a nation must be based. Its depth and effectiveness must be firmly fixed on the will and motivation of the people. 
On Heroes Day President Robert Mugabe clearly pointed out that our constitution should ashamedly reflect Zimbabwean values, no less, no more. This entails that it must be a constitution that is home grown and not simply a foreign authored document that is simply cut and paste.
The current draft fails to see the individual as a part of the whole society. Individuals are what they are, because that is what society is like.
The draft should be a complete reflection of society. One cannot divorce the draft from society for it is within the same society that the constitution is expected to be founded.
The draft should act as a mirror which reflects what society expects. The constitution will be a guide on how high-ranking civil servants are elected into office.
The people expect such civil servants to be custodians of the constitution and principles on which its tenets are built.
It should not be a draft of what other countries expect of us and should be our own creation.
It is therefore a shame that some of our “trusted ruling elite” could not even wait to board the next plane to parade to some regional leaders what they purported to be the accepted draft constitution and yet it negates the wishes of the people.
All sane Zimbabweans are fully aware of why these self-styled politicians are keen on putting the cart before the horse. It is disheartening to realise that elitists who came up with the draft constitution want to see only themselves in society’s mirror.
They are a selfish, egocentric and self-centred group who only think about their individual interests and nothing else. These are the so called African intellectuals who do not want to have the energy to disband the existent oppressive colonial “clauses” in the Lancaster House Constitution or doing away with it all together since it was inherited from colonialism.
They are bent on trying to maintain some clauses of the “Lancaster constitution” even though they have failed to work.
What such pseudo-Zimbabwean politicians must know is that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.
Such a power-hungry group should never be allowed to govern. Progressive Zimbabweans are not interested in agents of neo-imperialism whose “genius” glows when devising ways of crushing any initiative to better the lives of the ordinary people.
Society, in the elitist drafter’s view, fails to be the mirror by which human behaviour is measured as good or bad.
Morality to them is therefore shaped by what a person individually thinks is right or wrong, not what society thinks is acceptable or taboo.
Furusa has argued at length about the colonial hangover that most Africans still find themselves in after independence.
These are the Africans who are not revolutionary and have been intellectually seduced by their neo-imperialist masters and do not share in the Zimbabwean, Zanu-PF vision of being masters of our own lives and determiners of our own destiny.
This is why President Mugabe in his address on Heroes Day advised that “as a nation, we need to take heed of the fundamental lessons of the history of our liberation struggle, since the First Chimurenga of the 1890’s, which lessons have been characterised by the core values of singularity and unity of purpose, self-determination, fearless resolve and an enduring spirit.”
Neo-imperialists are very much bent on destroying and rubbishing our history so that we depend on theirs.
This is why our own children and some of “educated citizens” do not find anything amiss in them having pictures taken squatting or sitting at Cecil John Rhodes’ grave and do not have the slightest thought of doing so at their own grandparents’ graves.
All that is white is considered good, while that which is black is bad or demonic.
This is all because we have failed to liberate ourselves from the bonds of white supremacy. We strongly contend that we need to “revisit the past to know the present.”
Furusa correctly noted that development can only take place in a cultural context. As Zimbabweans we must therefore develop ideas, principles and values that will guide the way we live.
This is why Frantz Fanon advised that “It is imperative that we decide at once to change our ways.
“We must shake off the heavy darkness in which we were plunged and leave it behind.
“The new day which is already at hand must find us firm, prudent and resolute . . . Let us not waste time in sterile litanies and nauseating mimicry. We have better things to do than to follow Europe.”
Professor Mararike in one of his articles lamented that “the slavery of the mind is far more destructive than the slavery of the body or the exploitation and destruction of the peoples’ material resources.”
This is the reason why some sections of the Zimbabwean population have been brainwashed into throwing in the dust bin their own values and ideals.
These are people who have become willing partners and are co-operating in their own exploitation and impeding Zimbabwe’s progress.
Zimbabweans must therefore have a constitution that envision and respects the wishes of the Zimbabwean majority.

Bowden B.C. Mbanje & Darlington N. Mahuku are lecturers in International Relations and Peace and Governance with Bindura University of Science Education.