Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary general, Mr. Edward Dube, has responded to reports that the ruling Zanu Pf party intends to amend the constitution, to do away with the two term limit so as to allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to run for a third term, insisting only parliamentarians have the power to determine Mnangagwa’s fate.
The current constitution, promulgated in 2013 after the end of the Government of National Unity limits the Presidential terms to 2 five year terms.
Dube’s comments come after some Zanu PF officials chanted slogans encouraging Mnangagwa to run for a 3rd term. Their slogan says, “2030 vaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo, which translates to Mnangagwa will still be in office by 2030.
Mnangagwa, who officiated at the National Youth Day celebrations on February 21, didn’t directly address the rumoured third term bid.
In an interview with 263Times last Friday, War Veterans Secretary General Edward Dube said the constitution does not provide for a third term unless parliamentarians amend it.
“The way I read the Constitution, it does not provide for a third term unless amended, so the onus is on the parliamentarians. If they represent the people that brought them to power, I believe they will make proper determination,” said Dube.
The War Veterans Secretary General also rubbished ambassador Christopher Mutsvagwa’s claim that he still holds the ZNLWVA chairmanship, saying his tenure expired on November 15 in 2019.
“At law Christopher Mutsvangwa ceased to be the Chairman of the ZNLWVA on November 15, 2019. His clinging to power is illegal personally to me. Those who are knowledgeable to the ZNLWVA constitution are aware that you are only given a tenure of 5 years, subject to you again being endorsed by a congress, which Mutsvangwa failed to do, which means his claim is invalid,” explained Dube.
He also pleaded with the government to give war vets title deeds so that they secure their land which they took at the height of the country’s land reform program.
“The majority of war veterans do not have access to land, and those who managed to have land are being chased out from the farms, which brings to attention the issue of security of tenure. It’s our humble appeal to the government and all relevant stakeholders that the war veterans be afforded an opportunity to have land for farming with appropriate title,” added Dube.
ZNLWVA was formed in 1990 by veterans of the country’s liberation struggle to advance the cause of the former freedom fighters who participated in the Second Chimurenga, which brought forth the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980.
The main thrust of the organization was to ensure that the former freedom fighters’ needs and those of their offspring are well catered for.