By Davison Muchadenyika
We cannot afford to write a new constitution without a revolution. If we do that, we would have proven Aristotle wrong; which is however not our intention. Our intention is very clear, we need political change.
We did it in March 2008, again in March 2013 we recorded heroic feats and we are to take the revolution a step further in the next election. The constitution is a done deal now. Our biggest task is to make the constitution a reality in our lives.
Our challenge is to make sure that, the ordinary people; whether in a village in Uzumba, Checheche, or be it Nkayi, live a better life enjoying in better and progressive Zimbabwe. We have to usher in a new Zimbabwe; which values people’s lives as the cornerstone of social change.
I have said it elsewhere that, “across the world; the writing of new constitutions has ushered in new regimes. It is the nature of new constitutions to put to rest old and repressive regimes. It is the nature of new constitutions to bring renewed hope and strength to people.
It is the nature of new constitutions to put people’s wills to the forefront. Simply put, new constitutions usher in regime change”. The just concluded new constitution represents a big step in creating a society we have envisaged for so long.
However, since immemorial overcoming one mountain leads to another steeper mountain to climb. The next election remains an important step ahead of us, which calls for composure, calmness, boldness and decisiveness.
The step ahead
2013 remain a historic year for the people of Zimbabwe. We cemented our revolution by writing our constitution for the first time since the country’s recorded history. Next on the agenda is voting for a new political dispensation.
The election is a crucial and defining moment for the revolution; there are no two ways to it, it has to be won. We need a new regime, a regime with a new thrust to governance, a regime that understands the welfare of the people at the heart of all politics.
That regime can only govern with our mandate, the mandate through the ballot box. In March 2008, we nearly did it, until the regime of terror unleashed violence to us. Our vote was stolen in broad day light. But, not in 2013. People’s choice has to triumph over violence, intimidation and torture.
To move a step ahead, we have to record a landmark turnout for this make or break election. Let’s make sure that the rigging machinery gets overwhelmed and inadvertently fail to cope.
Ultimately, we will triumph over the forces of darkness, the forces that want to eat alone whilst we are starving, the resistance that want to see young people, despite having good qualifications spend the whole day sitting on bridges!
The 2013 momentum seems too huge to be stoppable. Let’s complete and finish the authoritarian regime. If difficult decisions are postponed i.e. defending the revolution in the next election, then we are all in quandary.
Keeping the momentum
Regime change alone will not and cannot deliver better health, education, transport, energy, water etc. to our lives. Voting is important in effecting and dismissing a government we, as citizens’ desire but there is more to it.
The momentum has to be kept – the spirit of active citizenship should define our everyday lives.
The 2013 United Nations Human Development Report argues;
“The turmoil in several countries in the Arab States is a reminder that people, especially the young, who are better educated and healthier than previous generations put a high premium on meaningful employment, on exercising a voice in affairs that influence their lives and on being treated with respect”.
To create a better Zimbabwe, we must act, voice and influence activities affecting our lives be it political, economic, environmental and social.
It is us, ordinary citizens who do not have a better life. Those in power have it. It is us, who struggle to have better education, health, jobs, etc. It is the state’s role (those in power) to provide these essential services.
Hence, we have to demand, influence and participate actively in the production, distribution and redistribution of public goods and services. This transacts into what Duncan Green calls active citizenship. By definition, active citizenship means the combination of rights and responsibilities that link individuals to the state i.e. paying taxes, obeying laws, and enjoying political, civil and social rights. What is key to note is that for Zimbabwe to move ahead development wise, there are two main actors: the state and citizens.
For so long we have been saying that the state is not delivering. But how many times are we circumventing paying taxes? How many times have we run our businesses informally? How many times have we smuggled goods in the country avoiding the tax man?
How many times have we taken the government to account? How many times have we evaluated the performance of our councillors, parliamentarians, ministries, etc.? We have to play our roles, otherwise if we relax and be passive, it is us, the ordinary citizens who will be first to suffer again.
Things have to change, voting alone is not enough, but keeping the momentum is. Renowned Pakistani economist and father of human development Mahbub ul Haq left us some words of advice;
“Across the globe, people are uniting in a common struggle: to participate freely in the events and processes that shape their lives.” The struggle for changing our lives and engaging the state is a daily one, whether we have everything or nothing to eat. Engraving the struggle in our routines is fundamental.
There are neither short cuts nor miracles to our progress as citizens. The pacesetters of the revolution we have started remain us; ordinary citizens.
The defenders of the revolutions remains us; the poor, vulnerable, powerless but always hopeful about a better tomorrow. We have already chose action over inaction, and what remains is defending our actions to the letter and spirit.
Davison Muchadenyika, is a Development Planner pursuing post-graduate studies in Germany and can be contacted at [email protected].
