Source: New textbook takes Constitution to Zim’s classrooms -Newsday Zimbabwe
A NEW textbook aimed at demystifying Zimbabwe’s Constitution for learners in school has been launched more than a decade after the country adopted its supreme law.
The book authored by legal scholar, entrepreneur and civic education advocate Believe Guta, is titled: Constitutional Studies for Schools in Zimbabwe: A Guide to the Constitution for Zimbabwean Secondary School Students.
Published in Harare by the Big Brains Legal Aid Trust, the textbook seeks to take constitutional knowledge out of courtrooms and political debates and place it directly in classrooms.
The publication responds to long-standing concerns that constitutional literacy in Zimbabwe has largely remained the preserve of the legal, political and academic elite, leaving ordinary citizens — particularly young people — with limited access to practical knowledge of the Constitution.
Guta said the book was inspired by section 7(b) of the Constitution, which obliges the State to promote public awareness of the Constitution, including ensuring that it is taught in schools.
“More than 10 years after the Constitution came into effect, this constitutional aspiration has not been fully realised,” Guta said.
“As a civic education and law reform advocate, I felt a responsibility to help to bridge that gap.”
He explained that the book translates complex constitutional ideals to age-appropriate, practical learning.
“For the Constitution to be meaningful, it must be understood by citizens from an early age. This is about taking it out of courtrooms and political debates and placing it where it belongs — in the hands of learners,” he added.
The textbook covers key themes including constitutional supremacy, systems of governance, the Bill of Rights, civic duties, judicial independence, and constitutional amendments.
It incorporates everyday examples, local case studies, illustrations and classroom activities.
“Students should not memorise constitutional provisions in isolation. They need to see how constitutional values operate in real life,” Guta added.
A defining feature is its balanced focus on both rights and responsibilities.
While fundamental freedoms are clearly explained, equal emphasis is placed on civic duties, environmental protection, tolerance and participation in governance.
“Democracy is not only about what citizens are entitled to, but also about what they owe to one another and to the nation. Constitutionalism is a shared responsibility,” he noted.
The book maintains a non-partisan tone, presenting the Constitution as a national social contract rather than a political instrument — an approach designed to make it suitable for schools across diverse institutional and social contexts.
Its layout and teaching aids are tailored to support educators as a practical classroom resource.
“If young people understand the Constitution early, they are more likely to respect it, defend it and use it responsibly,” Guta said.
Guta, an entrepreneur and civic education specialist focused on making legal knowledge accessible, is also the author of several other books, including Blueprint of Success and the best-selling Legal Battles of an Entrepreneur.
Constitutional Studies for Schools in Zimbabwe: A Guide to the Constitution for Zimbabwean Secondary School Students is his fourth publication.
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