The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) has called for the establishment of laws that bar anyone calling for sanctions and economic sabotage from contesting elections in the country and make it a serious crime under the third schedule of criminal offences.

The Third Schedule includes crimes such as murder and rape among other serious crimes.

Addressing a media briefing in Harare yesterday, ZNLWVA secretary-general Cde Victor Matemadanda said the association condemned all unreasonable forces going around the world seeking an extension of sanctions.

He said war veterans unanimously agreed to implore the meeting  set for next week in Esigodini in Matabeleland South province to declare all who call for sanctions against Zimbabwe and work against the Government efforts to resuscitate the economy as enemies of the State.

“We will call upon the conference to urge Parliament to enact laws that cause an investigation and establishment of facts on people who call for sanctions and economic sabotage,” said Cde Matemadanda.

“Once it is established that it’s true, such people should not be eligible for election to district, council, provincial council, Member of Parliament, Senate and Presidential positions.”

The war veterans also seek to request the conference to call upon the Parliament to classify economic sabotage and the calling for sanctions as Third Schedule offences.

They are also seeking the conference to ask the Parliament to raise the age limit of those who can contest for the presidential election from the age of 40 to 52.

Cde Matemadanda said it was also their proposal that the ages for contesting for council and MP positions should be 18 years and above while those seeking to contest for Senate must be 40 years and above.

“This will make sure that anyone who contests for the Presidency is mature enough to run the country,” he said.

Cde Matemadanda said following the August 1 incident that claimed six lives and caused destruction of property, the war veterans want the conference to call upon Parliament to change the law dealing with the swearing-in of the President.

“The swearing-in must be done soon after the announcement of results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and allow those with queries to do it after the swearing-in of the winning President,” he said.