O ZAPU has said the late liberation war commander Dumiso Dabengwa would be “turning in his grave” over attempts to undermine democratic principles through the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), warning that the country risks betraying the values that liberation fighters sacrificed their lives for.
Dabengwa, the former ZIPRA intelligence chief and liberation war stalwart died on May 23, 2019 while returning from medical treatment in India.
This year marks six years since his death.
In a statement commemorating the anniversary, O ZAPU president Mathew Sibanda said it was unfortunate that Dabengwa’s anniversary comes at a time when Zimbabwe is witnessing renewed attempts to weaken democratic institutions and tamper with constitutional safeguards through CAB3.
“It is painful and deeply ironic that as we remember Commander Dabengwa, the nation is confronted with CAB3, a process that many citizens view as a direct assault on democratic principles,” said Sibanda.
“Dabengwa and countless other liberation fighters went to war for one man, one vote. They sacrificed their youth and risked their lives so that Zimbabweans would have the right to freely choose their leaders and determine the future of their country.”
Sibanda said the liberation struggle was never fought so that power could be concentrated in the hands of a few individuals at the expense of democratic accountability.
“Our heroes did not fight to replace one form of oppression with another. They fought for a democratic Zimbabwe founded on constitutionalism, equality and the people’s will,” he said.
“If Dabengwa and many of his comrades could witness what is happening today, they would be turning in their graves.”
The O ZAPU leader said the late nationalist consistently defended principles of justice, unity and citizen participation even after enduring imprisonment and political persecution in post-independence Zimbabwe.
“Commander Dabengwa remained committed to peace, dialogue and democracy throughout his life. Even after suffering detention and marginalisation, he never abandoned the belief that Zimbabwe belongs to all its people, not a political elite,” Sibanda said.
He added that the country’s worsening economic hardships, corruption and political tensions demanded leadership that respected the aspirations of ordinary citizens.
“At a time when young people are leaving the country in large numbers, unemployment is rising and public confidence in institutions is declining, we should be recommitting ourselves to the ideals of the liberation struggle instead of weakening democratic processes,” he said.
Sibanda urged Zimbabweans to honour Dabengwa not only through remembrance ceremonies, but by defending constitutional rights and protecting the gains of independence.
“The greatest tribute we can pay to Dabengwa is to safeguard democracy, uphold the Constitution and ensure that the principle of one man, one vote remains sacred in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Dabengwa was one of the most senior commanders of ZIPRA during the liberation struggle and later served as Home Affairs minister after independence. In 2008 he revived ZAPU after breaking away from the Unity Accord, arguing that Zimbabwe needed genuine democracy, national healing and respect for diversity.
He remains widely respected in Matabeleland and across Zimbabwe as a symbol of discipline, courage and resistance against political repression.