Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
The Zimbabwe Congress of Students union (ZICOSU), Masvingo province chapter, has congratulated President Mnangagwa following the enactment of the Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA3), describing the landmark development as a harbinger of good days ahead, especially for students in the country.
The organisation’s provincial chair, Mr Archiford Rukuni, in an address during a press conference in Masvingo today, hailed CAA3, saying it was a product of extensive consultations of key stakeholders across the length and breadth of the country, including students at various institutions of higher learning.
Mr Rukuni, who was flanked by other members of the ZICOSU national and provincial executive, said CAA3 directly served the interests of tertiary education students and the broader Zimbabwean populace.
“Following extensive public consultations and parliamentary debates, this landmark legislation (CAA3) ushers in a new era of structural efficiency, political stability and sustainable economic growth for our beloved nation, Zimbabwe,” he said.
“As the revolutionary vanguard of tertiary students and future leaders of this country, ZICOSU Masvingo Province has actively engaged with the provisions of this Act from its inception until its finalisation on the President’s assent.”
“We recognise that these constitutional reforms directly serve the interests of the student body and the broader Zimbabwean populace, especially the establishment of expanded avenues for youth representation and civic engagement creates tangible pathways for young people to contribute to national policymaking and governance.
“CAA3 has brought in the amendment of section 277 to rope in youths in governance of Local Authorities as councillors. This is a welcome and overdue development.”
ZICOSU Masvingo Chapter said the extension of the electoral cycle to elect the President, legislators and councillors from five to seven years will shield the nation from perpetual and disruptive electioneering, allowing more time and focus on developmental issues.
“This provides the long-term stability necessary to attract investment, foster economic growth and create sustainable post-graduation employment opportunities for our graduates,” he said. “Beyond employment, Education 5.0 is now gravitating towards producing students who can invent things and register patents from the innovation hubs fully funded by the Government of Zimbabwe.
“CAA3 will bring the much-needed stability for students to flourish and from the very beginning, ZICOSU Masvingo Province has been at the forefront of mobilising students in support of CAA3. Through public lectures, interfaces and engagements across all tertiary institutions in Masvingo Province, students were fully behind the Bill which gave birth to CAA3.
”Our position is not based on blind allegiance and loyalty but on reasoned analysis of CAA 3’s provisions and a clear understanding of the benefits to students. We have studied it (CAA3), we have engaged with our members and we have arrived at a firm and unified position that indeed this is the law we need for a Zimbabwe we all aspire for.”
According to the ZICOSU Masvingo provincial chair, the organisation’s members and students at large were supposed to celebrate the CAA3 milestone in the nation’s history, while also undertaking some learning to fully appreciate the new law’s provisions.
ZICOSU, also reminded its membership and the students community nationwide to remain vigilant and be prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and development agenda, which seeks to birth an empowered upper-middle-income society in Zimbabwe by the year 2030.
“ZICOSU Masvingo Province stands firm, united, and unwavering in our support of CAA3. The students have spoken, and our message is clear: continuity, stability and progress for Zimbabwe.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa