Mnangagwa's home province adamant on 2030

ZANU-PF's Midlands province has firmly reiterated its stance on extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term of office to 2030, despite the president's repeated assertions that he intends to step down in 2028.

The resolution to extend Mnangagwa's presidency was adopted during the ruling party's annual conference in Bulawayo a fortnight ago, reigniting tensions and infighting within the party. A vocal proponent of the 2030 agenda, Edson Chiherenge, the ZANU-PF chairperson for Midlands, expressed unwavering support for the plan during a meeting in Kwekwe last week.

"We want him to continue to rule," Chiherenge declared. "We went to a conference to endorse our resolution as Midlands province that Mnangagwa should extend his term till 2030… 2030 belongs to Emmerson Mnangagwa."

Chiherenge has been actively touring the province to garner support for the 2030 agenda, which has been a source of division among ZANU-PF factions. The president, however, has consistently stated that he will retire in 2028, when he will be 86 years old, signaling his intent to step down at the end of his current term.

Despite Mnangagwa's statements, ZANU-PF's Midlands province remains resolute, with Chiherenge asserting that the party's 2030 vision is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, Mnangagwa's deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely considered a potential successor, has not publicly endorsed the 2030 agenda.

Political analysts have raised concerns about the mixed signals from both Mnangagwa and his supporters. Vivid Gwede, a political analyst, suggested that many of Mnangagwa's allies are motivated by self-interest, fearing the loss of power and influence if he steps down.

"Many people have benefited from Mnangagwa's rule and fear his exit because they will lose positions and opportunities to enrich themselves," Gwede said. "The ruling party system is built on patronage. So even if Mnangagwa meant his word, there would still be these voices trying to convince him to stay."

Maxwell Saungweme, another political analyst, described the push for a longer presidency as a "calculated political manoeuver," with Mnangagwa employing "strategic ambiguity" to maintain his grip on power. Saungweme argued that such a tactic allows Mnangagwa to publicly declare his intent to retire while subtly supporting the push for an extension.

"This approach helps craft an image of selfless dedication to Zimbabwe, building goodwill and reducing opposition," Saungweme explained.

Political commentator Ruben Mbofana, however, expressed skepticism about Mnangagwa's true intentions. He argued that the president's supporters in the Midlands and Masvingo provinces are pushing the 2030 agenda with his implicit support, suggesting that Mnangagwa is deliberately allowing the narrative to unfold.

"If Mnangagwa was really sincere and telling the truth that he does not want to extend his term, he would have silenced his supporters from day one," Mbofana said. "We would not be hearing all this ED 2030 slogan."

ZANU-PF's Director for Information, Farai Marapira, acknowledged the ongoing debate within the party. "The 2030 resolution was adopted at the conference; we are still waiting on how the party will deal with the resolutions in light of the President's words," Marapira said. "We respect democracy and the structures are allowed to speak their mind, so that's the democracy of ZANU-PF."

As the country prepares for the 2025 elections, the conflicting signals from Mnangagwa's camp continue to stir political uncertainty, with many questioning whether the president will stick to his promise of stepping down or if the 2030 agenda will become a reality.