Tinotenda Hove – Citizens leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa has issued a strongly worded statement condemning the Constitutional Amendment Bill (CAB3), describing it as a direct attack on Zimbabwe’s founding ideals as the nation marked its 46th Independence commemorations.

In remarks shared under the theme “IGNITING THE INDEPENDENCE PROMISE – Zimbabwe @46,” Chamisa said the proposed constitutional changes represent what he called a betrayal of the liberation struggle and the values upon which independence was built.
“CAB3 is a grave assault and attack on the Independence Promise,” Chamisa said.

He argued that independence was built on a set of foundational aspirations that have since been eroded over time. “The Independence Promise was a promise of freedom. A promise of one man, one vote. A promise of dignity and sovereignty. A promise of justice. A promise of peace. A promise of tolerance. A promise of unity and oneness,” he said.

Chamisa further outlined what he described as the broader expectations of independence, saying it included economic and social transformation for citizens. “A promise of success for the African citizen. A promise of opportunity for young people. A promise of dignity in retirement and social security. A promise of better education, better health care and social services,” he said.

He added that governance and democratic participation were central to the original vision. “A promise of good government and good governance upon inclusive national processes and self-determination. A promise of hope,” Chamisa said.

However, he argued that these aspirations have not been fulfilled. “That is the PROMISE, and that PROMISE has been BROKEN,” he said.
Chamisa also painted a bleak picture of the country’s current socio-economic state, claiming that conditions have deteriorated across multiple sectors. “We are now notorious in the negatives. We consistently hit the lowest benchmarks and score highly in the negatives. We are more divided than ever before. We are more apart than ever before,” he said.

He continued: “We are poorer than ever before. We are the more depressed people than ever before. We are more oppressed people than ever before. We are the more disappointed people than ever before. We are more disillusioned people than ever before.”

Chamisa called for what he described as a comprehensive political and constitutional reset to restore the ideals of independence.
“WE, THE CITIZENS, reiterate that only a political and constitutional settlement that gives birth to a citizen- and nation-centred government, anchored by credible national processes and outcomes, is the credible pathway towards the restoration of the Independence Promise—the road from the Independence Promise into true transformation,” he said.

He urged citizens to remain committed to change, adding: “Let this be our charge to history: that we did not inherit a broken promise and accept it, but that we rose, united in purpose, to restore it.”

“This is our duty. This is our moment. Let us ride in UNITY and PURPOSE to fulfill the liberation promise, that transformation promise. ~nc #RestoreThePromise #NotYetUhuru”