Exiles vow to fight ‘life president’ plan

be’s violent election campaign and later denied voting rights in Zimbabwean elections – condemned Zanu (PF) plans to change the constitution for the 18th time to accommodate Mugabe’s desire to stay in power.
Mugabe is trying to enforce a constitutional amendment in April, to move the presidential election to 2010 to coincide with parliamentary elections. The amendment is expected to sail through Parliament and Senate, as Zanu (PF) has a two-thirds majority.
“Another three years under the Mugabe regime is unacceptable and we will fight to the end to block the move,” said Freddy Sibanda from Hillbrow.
His sentiments were echoed by Esinath Tambula, who said, “We should mobilize people, especially in South Africa where there are more than two million Zimbabweans. We should spearhead demonstrations to force regional leaders to act against Mugabe’s misrule. The exiled should also debate the consequences of Mugabe’s continued stay in power.”
National Constitutional Assembly, a coalition of civic society, churches, political parties and individuals fighting for new, homegrown constitution, has vowed to fight Mugabe’s manoeuvres to extend his term.
Thousands of its members, including its leader Lovemore Madhuku, have been arrested and tortured by Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Exiled Zimbabweans have called upon the NCA to include them in the campaign for a new constitution. Most of the Zimbabwean communities living on farms have not been able to debate the need for a new constitution.
“There is a need to reach out to all Zimbabweans in South Africa in building the new constitution and to block Mugabe’s dreams. Next time, Mugabe will be taking life presidency if we let him off scot-free with his antics,” said Trinos Mupembi from Mabopane.
Shelter Ndhlovu attacked regional leaders, especially Southern African Community Development leaders, for failing to act against Mugabe’s flouting of the constitution.
“They need to tell him that what he is doing is also affecting us and that he should obey the constitution. Any changes should be brought to the people first as a referendum, as it affects the people,’ she said.
“The flawed constitution is denying displaced Zimbabweans voting rights and we need to confront the regime from all angles. People in the Diaspora have an unhindered platform to change regional policy on Mugabe, and we have to keep the matter on regional leaders’ agenda,” said Samson Matuke, from Makado near Messina.
The major setback facing the Diaspora is the denial of postal-voting rights, and millions of people will not able to vote in any election after Operation Murambatsvina displacements.
“We need to launch court cases in Zimbabwe and with international courts to force the government to recognize us as voters,” declared Matuke.