ZPRA veterans call for referendum on proposed amendment

Source: www.cite.org.zw

The Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) Veterans Association has declared that no constitutional amendment process can proceed without the input of liberation war veterans, describing the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 as “illegal and biased.” ZPRA Veterans Association spokesperson, retired Colonel Baster Magwizi, said veterans were mobilising under a new platform, Veterans for Democracy and Constitutionalism, to challenge the current process and defend the founding ideals of the liberation struggle. “I would like to introduce a concept by the ZPRA Veterans, which is Veterans for Democracy and Constitutionalism,” Magwizi told CITE. “We are linked to the constitution by way of the liberation struggle and the liberation struggle that was fought by the very veterans who today are sending voices of alarm and also cautioning the enemies of democracy, the current executive that the process they are developing is not the best of all.” Magwizi said the group intends to actively engage communities across Zimbabwe and in the Diaspora as part of efforts to influence the constitutional debate. “The ZPRA Veterans are raising concern that the veterans for democracy would like to take the democratic space and reach out to all communities, to all people of Zimbabwe locally and in the Diaspora… to provide checks and balances and also direction on the policy,” he said. The veterans spokesperson accused the regime of undermining the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle, arguing the current amendment process disregards the historical role of war veterans. “The current shenanigans on the modulation of the constitution is an attack on the people’s sacrifices…,” Magwizi said. “Now, the veterans for democracy are up again and are providing the necessary backup to the voices that are currently advising the outcomes of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, that we will not stand akimbo and watch the country being drained and the rights of the communities being dissipated.” Magwizi warned that veterans would resist any constitutional changes, which exclude their participation. “There is no process that will proceed without the voice of the veterans. Therefore, the amendment to the constitution is deemed illegal and biased by those who think that they are the legal minds of this country,” he said.

Magwizi further described the proposed amendments as a national danger, alleging they threaten democratic governance and could entrench authoritarian rule. “Zimbabwe War Veterans, including retired senior military generals vehemently challenge the proposed constitutional changes. Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 is an existential national threat. Without people-centred constitutional guarantees Zimbabwe will be in flames,” he said.

He also expressed strong opposition to provisions reportedly aimed at extending presidential terms or altering the electoral system. Magwizi argued that any attempt to replace direct presidential elections with a parliamentary system would betray the values of the liberation struggle. He said veterans were demanding that any constitutional changes be subjected to a national referendum. “For any amendments to the Zimbabwe Constitution 2013, we demand referendums.

Veterans argue that such fundamental changes cannot pass without subjecting them to the ‘people’s test’. Referendums are the litmus test. All citizens have a say,” Magwizi said. “Our actions emanate from an ideological standpoint. We are patriotic duty bearers… we assert that the constitution belongs to the people and they have the final say.” Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account.

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Related topics: ZPRA, constitutional amendment, liberation war veterans, Zimbabwe, democracy, Veterans for Democracy and Constitutionalism, Constitutional Amendment Bill, political activism, referendum

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