Story by Gay Matambo
WAR veterans in Manicaland Province have thrown their weight behind the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, describing it as a key step towards safeguarding independence and accelerating national development.
Speaking to ZBC News during an interface in Mutare on Friday, the ex-combatants said the proposed amendment which seeks to extend the electoral cycle from five to seven years, would promote stability and protect the gains of the liberation struggle.
“As war veterans we fully support the Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3 because we fought for the country’s development and that is what we want. We fought for a country that can build itself without being interrupted every few years,” a war veteran said.
“We believe that by extending the terms and moving to a parliamentary election model, the government can focus more on service delivery and less on the friction caused by constant election cycles,” another added.
Addressing the gathering, ZANU PF Secretary for the War Veterans League, Cde Douglas Mahiya, said the proposed changes would help create a stable environment for growth.
“This Bill will surely take us where we want to go as we seek to protect the gains of the liberation struggle. We have called you here today so that we send you to the people so that you can explain to the masses the importance of this bill as you have backed it. We want to go back to how we started when we came back from the war where we would see the parliamentarians voting for the President.”
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, highlighted the developmental prospects tied to the proposed amendments.
“We have many irrigation development projects that are set to be implemented in this province. By 2030, there is no district which is going to be left behind in terms of irrigation development. We are also proposing that war veterans should benefit from these projects. We will see industries being set up at these irrigation sites to beneficiate what is going to be produced. All that is under Vision 2030.”
ZANU PF Manicaland Provincial Chairperson, Cde Tawanda Mukodza, said the Bill is designed to shift focus from frequent elections to long-term development.
“Bill No. 3 is about shifting Manicaland from a cycle of constant politics to a season of uninterrupted progress. By prioritising long-term stability and professional expertise, the Bill aims to ensure that the province’s vital infrastructure and economic projects can finally reach completion.”
Public hearings on the Bill are expected to begin on March 30 across Zimbabwe.
