  We generalise to the $\mathbb{Z}_2$-graded set-up a practical method for
inspecting the (non)removability of parameters in zero-curvature
representations for partial differential equations (PDEs) under the action of
smooth families of gauge transformations. We illustrate the generation and
elimination of parameters in the flat structures over $\mathbb{Z}_2$-graded
PDEs by analysing the link between deformation of zero-curvature
representations via infinitesimal gauge transformations and, on the other hand,
propagation of linear coverings over PDEs using the Fr\"olicher--Nijenhuis
bracket.
