Zanu PF is once again shooting itself in the foot through its backward mentality of forcing people attending the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (Copac) outreach meetings to read and play megaphone to their tired script. Reports coming in from the provinces are a true reflection that Zanu PF wants to remain in the past of being ever in a war mode when other progressive parties such as the MDC are working hard to improve the lives of the citizens. The people of Zimbabwe want a Constitution that is progressive, which at the end of the day will be a lasting legacy to future generations.

We don’t want a Constitution that turns a blind eye to basic human rights abuses like the current situation in Zimbabwe where even a 15 year-old school kid can claim to be a former freedom fighter. Like any respected Constitution across the globe, the Constitution that we envisage should be able to protect the weak and guarantee respect for people’s rights.

However, this has proved not to be the case in Zimbabwe as Zanu PF has gone on a warpath foisting its already discredited positions on the people. The reeling party has engaged soldiers and secret service agents in what is now known across the country as “Operation Chimumumu” where only a few people are reading from prepared Zanu PF talking points.

How can one explain a public meeting that is attended by over 1 200 people and only five people speak at an outreach meeting? This attempt by Zanu PF officials means that they are putting in place provisions to make sure that they will not be arrested and prosecuted for their human rights crimes in a new and democratic Zimbabwe.

We know that the Zanu PF was against the drafting of a new, people driven Constitution in favour of the current one which it could use in manipulating the electoral system in order to fraudulently stay in power. What Zanu PF is doing is derailing the whole process so that Zimbabweans will not be able to make a Constitution that makes it difficult to rig polls. However, the people of Zimbabwe are going to shoot dead these Zanu PF positions in a free and fair referendum. As a country, the attitude being portrayed by Zanu PF will not take the country anywhere.

As a nation Zanu PF is not taking us anywhere but to hell. It should stop playing mind games as this will not take the country anywhere. The Copac co-chairperson, Douglas Mwonzora should not remain silent when the people’s rights are being trampled upon by Zanu PF. He should stamp his authority and say no to Zanu PF’s useless and tired antics.

Zanu PF has nothing to lose as it knows that free and robust Constitution making outreach meetings seal their fate as a political party. Zanu PF wants to create a false hope for the people of this country but we cannot let this opportunity of drafting our own Constitution slip by because of Zanu PF’s devious machinations to kill the people’s will.

Copac should come out in the open and call for the immediate barring of state security agents at all meetings. Police officers who attend these meetings should be in uniform. It is shocking and ridiculous that the police commissioner-general, Augustine Chihuri can claim that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) does not have money to send its forces on the ground to provide security when we are seeing them everyday at these outreach meetings, writing copiously to intimidate villagers from airing their own opinions.

At each Copac gathering, not less than five plain clothes officers will be able to attend. The motive is none other than instilling fear on the participants. Zanu PF should know that the people of Zimbabwe are determined in having a truly people – driven Constitution not a Zanu PF driven one.

They showed this determination in 2000 when they voted “NO” to the referendum then and they can do it again if Zanu PF fails to morph into a civilised, modern political party. In 2008, the people of Zimbabwe spoke with one voice demanding real change in the country. This resulted in Zanu PF’s heavy defeat at the hands of the popular MDC. There is no reason to stop this wave of change in the country. The people of Zimbabwe are determined more than ever before to shape their own destiny. Nothing will stop them.

Lawrence Paganga is an information officer in the Department of Information and Publicity in the MDC. He can be contacted at paganga@gmail.com