Andrease
Ethan
Mathibela,
National
Chairman
of
the
faction,
said
Zimbabwe
and
its
Constitution
belong
to
the
people,
any
attempt
to
amend
the
supreme
law
without
broad
public
consent
would
betray
the
founding
values
of
the
liberation
struggle.
“The
Zimbabwe
National
Liberation
War
Veterans
Association
stands
as
a
custodian
of
the
values,
sacrifices
and
aspirations
of
the
liberation
struggle,”
Mathibela
told
CITE.
“The
Constitution
of
Zimbabwe
is
not
merely
a
legal
document.
It
is
a
solemn
covenant
between
the
State
and
its
citizens,
born
out
of
historical
struggle,
national
dialogue
and
the
collective
will
of
the
people.”
The
proposed
amendment
Bill,
recently
backed
by
Cabinet,
seeks
to
extend
presidential
terms
and
alter
the
framework
of
executive
authority.
The
development
has
sparked
growing
political
and
civic
debate
over
constitutional
governance
and
democratic
accountability.
In
light
of
these
concerns,
the
war
veterans’
leader
called
for
an
immediate
and
inclusive
national
conversation
on
the
proposed
amendments.
“The
ZNLWVA
calls
for
an
immediate,
transparent
national
dialogue
on
any
proposed
constitutional
amendments,”
Mathibela
said.
“There
must
be
the
full
involvement
of
civil
society,
churches,
traditional
leaders,
youth,
women’s
groups
and
war
veterans.”
He
urged
Parliament
and
the
Executive
to
act
with
restraint
and
humility
and
respect
for
the
historic
responsibility
placed
upon
them.
“Zimbabwe
and
the
Constitution
belong
to
its
people.
No
amendment
that
weakens
democratic
accountability
or
sidesteps
popular
approval
can
claim
moral
or
historical
legitimacy,”
he
said.
Mathibela
also
called
on
citizens
to
remain
vigilant,
informed
and
engaged
in
defending
constitutional
governance.
“The
liberation
struggle
was
about
restoring
power
to
the
people.
That
principle
must
never
be
compromised,”
he
said.
Mathibela
said
any
constitutional
amendment
must
be
approached
“with
utmost
seriousness,
transparency
and
fidelity
to
democratic
principles.”
“Our
foundational
position
is
clear,”
he
said.
“The
ZNLWVA
is
firmly
and
unequivocally
opposed
to
any
attempt
to
subvert,
manipulate
or
amend
the
Constitution
of
Zimbabwe
without
the
express
approval
of
the
majority
of
the
people
of
Zimbabwe.”
He
argued
that
the
Constitution
derives
its
legitimacy
from
citizens
and
cannot
be
reshaped
to
suit
“transient
political
interests,
factional
ambitions
or
the
comfort
of
a
ruling
elite.”
“To
do
so
would
undermine
the
very
principles
for
which
thousands
of
gallant
sons
and
daughters
of
this
soil
sacrificed
their
youth,
their
freedom
and
in
many
cases
their
lives,”
Mathibela
said.
Invoking
the
spirit
of
the
liberation
struggle,
the
war
veteran
leader
stressed
the
fight
for
independence
was
not
about
entrenching
new
forms
of
domination.
“The
liberation
struggle
was
not
fought
to
replace
one
form
of
domination
with
another,”
he
said.
“It
was
fought
to
restore
dignity,
sovereignty
and
participatory
governance
to
the
people
of
Zimbabwe.”
Mathibela
added
that
constitutional
democracy
remains
the
backbone
securing
those
gains
for
present
and
future
generations.
“Any
constitutional
amendment
process
that
appears
designed
to
entrench
power,
weaken
accountability,
or
insulate
leadership
from
the
will
of
the
people
is
inconsistent
with
the
founding
ideals
of
the
struggle,”
he
said.
The
ZNLWVA
faction
pointed
to
Section
3
of
the
Constitution,
which
establishes
that
all
political
authority
derives
from
Zimbabweans.
“Therefore,
constitutional
amendments
must
be
driven
by
broad
national
consultation.
Citizens
must
be
fully
informed
of
the
implications
of
any
proposed
changes,”
Mathibela
said.
He
further
insisted
that
where
necessary,
amendments
must
be
subjected
to
a
transparent
and
credible
referendum
process.
“To
bypass
or
dilute
public
participation
is
to
undermine
constitutional
legitimacy,”
he
said.
Mathibela
described
the
current
push
to
amend
the
Constitution
as
appearing
to
serve
“the
narrow
interests
of
a
minority
ruling
elite
rather
than
the
collective
national
interest.”
“Constitutions
are
not
instruments
of
political
convenience,”
he
said.
“They
are
safeguards
against
abuse
of
power.
When
amendments
are
perceived
as
self-serving,
they
erode
public
trust
and
weaken
national
cohesion.”
Zimbabwe’s
long-term
stability,
he
added,
depends
not
on
extending
power
but
on
strengthening
institutions.
The
ZNLWVA
faction
reaffirmed
its
commitment
to
safeguarding
national
principles
and
constitutional
order.
“As
war
veterans,
we
remain
committed
to
defending
the
sovereignty
of
Zimbabwe,
protecting
the
integrity
of
the
Constitution,
upholding
democratic
accountability
and
ensuring
that
the
gains
of
independence
are
not
eroded
through
constitutional
manipulation,”
Mathibela
said.
“We
shall
continue
to
speak
without
fear
or
favour
when
national
principles
are
at
stake.”
Last
year
in
March,
a
press
conference
organised
by
Mathibela
in
Bulawayo
descended
into
chaos
after
it
was
disrupted
by
a
group
of
youths
claiming
to
represent
an
organisation
called
Youth
Connect.
The
war
veterans,
who
had
gathered
to
address
the
state
of
governance
in
Zimbabwe
and
announce
a
planned
march
against
corruption,
tribalism,
and
economic
decline,
accused
the
youths
of
being
“hired
hands”
and
“state
agents”
sent
to
deny
them
press
freedom
and
freedom
of
expression.