Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
War veterans in Masvingo have thrown their weight behind the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, which will, among other things, pave way for the presidential term by two years.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Masvingo provincial chair Cde Paul Makuni said ex-freedom fighters in Masvingo were unequivocally clear that President Mnangagwa was the right man to continue steering the national ship until Zimbabwe attains upper middle-income society status.
The support by Masvingo war veterans comes after a group of retired army generals and liberation war veterans led by Masvingo War Veterans League provincial chair Retired Major General Gibson Mashingaidze recently endorsed Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, noting that its proposed changes sought to align Zimbabwe’s governance and electoral processes with national development priorities while addressing gaps in the current constitutional framework.
Addressing a press conference in Masvingo attended by members of the ZNLWVA provincial executive, Cde Makuni said as an affiliate of the ruling Zanu PF party, his association was guided by the revolutionary party’s resolution that President Mnangagwa’s term be extended.
“The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) (Masvingo Chapter), led by Cde Paul Makuni, hereby expresses its full support for the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 of 2025. As an Affiliate of our revolutionary party, Zanu PF and our Patron being His Excellency Cde Mnangagwa, we are always guided accordingly, thus being loyal to the party and its leadership,” he said.
“The other reason for us supporting this Bill is that its main focus is on economic development as opposed to political contestation through the extension of the presidential term by two (2) years to seven (7) years. The Bill is a developmental step because it allows whoever is elected to power to have ample time to initiate and complete projects which uplift communities.”
Cde Makuni said Masvingo war veterans fully supported the election of a President by parliament, as was the case in other progressive democracies like South Africa.
“The transition to the parliamentary election of the President is a positive move towards a more efficient and less costly electoral system. Therefore, the bill enhances constitutional governance, democracy and institutional clarity.”
Cde Makuni said war veterans in Masvingo were satisfied with various transformative initiatives introduced by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa’s leadership that have pivoted Zimbabwe towards an upper middle-income society.
