The
remarks
were
made
by
ZAPU
National
Chairperson,
John
Zolani
Dlamini,
during
a
funeral
wake
held
on
Monday
in
Pelandaba
for
the
late
Retired
Colonel
Dallas
Patron
Khutshwekhaya
Nketa
Ndlovu
Mlevu.
Dlamini’s
comments
come
amid
growing
concern
from
civil
society
and
political
actors
that
public
discussion
around
the
amendment
bill
is
curtailed,
with
reports
of
restrictions
on
gatherings
and
heightened
scrutiny
of
meetings
perceived
to
be
critical
of
the
proposed
constitutional
changes.
The
Bill
has
sparked
national
debate
as
it
seeks
to
amend
key
provisions
of
Zimbabwe’s
Constitution,
including
those
related
to
presidential
term
limits,
judicial
appointments
and
the
electoral
framework.
Critics
argue
the
process
has
not
been
sufficiently
transparent
or
inclusive,
with
citizens
noting
they
are
not
allowed
to
freely
participate
in
consultations.
In
an
interview
with
CITE,
Dlamini
said
the
introduction
of
the
Bill
has
coincided
with
a
marked
shift
in
the
government’s
posture
toward
citizens.
“The
government
now,
after
it
introduced
the
Constitutional
Amendment
Bill
No.
3,
has
become
aggressive
and
dangerous,”
he
said.
“It
does
not
want
to
see
people,
even
three
people
moving
as
a
team.
They
think
that
we
are
planning
against
this
CA3.”
The
ZAPU
national
chair
warned
the
political
situation
could
deteriorate
further,
potentially
affecting
even
routine
social
and
religious
activities.
“I
foresee
a
situation
where
even
going
to
churches,
you
have
to
apply,
you
have
to
get
permission
from
somewhere,”
Dlamini
said.
“Even
going
for
a
funeral,
burying
your
relative,
we
now
have
to
ask
for
permission.”
According
to
Dlamini,
the
prevailing
atmosphere
reflects
a
government
gripped
by
fear
and
suspicion.
“Zanu
is
afraid
of
what
it
has
created.
You
can
see
it’s
cracking
apart
and
everyone
is
now
a
suspect
in
this
country.
We
are
no
longer
free,”
he
said.
Dlamini’s
remarks
echo
concerns
raised
in
recent
reports
questioning
the
legality
of
limiting
gatherings
for
discussions
around
the
constitutional
amendments,
with
critics
arguing
such
measures
undermine
democratic
participation
and
constitutional
rights.
The
funeral
of
Nketa,
himself
a
former
ZAPU
official
and
liberation
war
veteran,
has
also
become
a
flashpoint,
with
ZAPU
accusing
the
ruling
party
of
attempting
to
dominate
proceedings
while
sidelining
those
who
were
politically
aligned
with
the
deceased.
Dlamini
said
even
at
Nketa’s
funeral
wake,
ZAPU
members
and
the
media
faced
restrictions.
“When
you
came
here,
you
could
write
three
books
about
what
you
saw,”
he
told
journalists.
“We
were
not
even
allowed
to
talk
to
you.
You
were
not
allowed
to
interview
us
until
we
had
to
beg.
This
is
because
of
intimidation.”
He
further
claimed
that
Nketa’s
family
had
been
pressured
into
limiting
ZAPU’s
involvement.
“This
family
has
been
highly
intimidated,”
Dlamini
said.
“They
have
been
promised
money.
Poor
people
will
always
think
there
is
something
to
gain
because
Zanu
is
flashing
money
everywhere.”
Dlamini
also
questioned
the
government’s
sudden
interest
in
Nketa
following
his
death,
saying
the
late
colonel
had
not
been
recognised
or
supported
during
his
lifetime.
“Before,
there
was
no
Nketa
in
their
plans.
But
today
they
have
Nketa
because
he
is
dead,”
he
said.
“We
know
the
reason,
it
is
for
political
mileage.”
The
national
chair
said
Nketa
had
remained
loyal
to
ZAPU
and
its
ideals
throughout
his
life,
despite
opportunities
to
align
with
other
political
formations.
“Cde
Nketa
did
not
work
for
Zanu.
He
did
not
work
for
any
other
opposition
party.
He
chose
ZAPU
because
of
its
policies,
policies
that
are
democratic,
that
focus
on
development,
unity
and
equality.
Policies
that
don’t
accept
tribalism
and
regionalism.,”
Dlamini
said.
Reflecting
on
Nketa’s
liberation
war
credentials,
Dlamini
noted
he
joined
the
struggle
in
1975
and
trained
in
Tanzania
and
Morocco
before
serving
as
a
commander
in
ZPRA.
After
independence,
Nketa
served
in
the
Zimbabwe
National
Army,
including
deployment
in
the
Democratic
Republic
of
Congo,
where
Dlamini
said
he
commanded
troops.
“I
worked
with
him
in
the
army
and
later
in
the
DRC.
He
was
a
professional
soldier,
very
humble,
but
firm,”
Dlamini
said.
However,
he
claimed
that
Nketa’s
career
progression
in
the
army
was
hindered,
alleging
that
less
qualified
individuals
were
promoted
ahead
of
him.
“To
my
surprise,
his
promotion
was
very
slow,
despite
his
education
and
capabilities,”
he
said.
“Some
people
who
were
not
even
educated
were
promoted
ahead
of
him.”
Dlamini
said
these
experiences,
combined
with
broader
grievances
over
the
treatment
of
former
ZPRA
cadres,
contributed
to
Nketa’s
decision
to
retire
and
later
rejoin
ZAPU
during
its
revival.
Dlamini
also
revisited
longstanding
disputes
over
properties
and
resources
linked
to
ZAPU
and
ZPRA,
lamenting
how
assets
contributed
by
cadres
during
the
liberation
struggle
were
seized.
“We
contributed
money
at
assembly
points,
believing
it
would
be
invested
for
our
benefit,”
he
said.
“But
all
those
properties
were
taken.
Our
families
are
not
benefiting
from
anything
today.”
Dlamini
said
ZAPU
would
not
be
deterred
from
speaking
out,
either
on
the
amendment
bill
or
on
what
it
views
as
injustices
affecting
its
members.
“We
will
push
harder
until
such
time
that
Zanu
breaks
down,”
he
said.
“And
it
will
break
down,
we
can
see
the
cracks.
They
are
fighting
among
themselves.”