News / National
Mnangagwa 2030 move faces Parliamentary sabotage
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A contentious battle is brewing in Zimbabwe's Parliament over a proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term of office, with some ruling Zanu-PF lawmakers vowing to defy the motion in a secret ballot. Parliament is set to resume next week, and the push for an extension is expected to take center stage in the upcoming session.
While Mnangagwa has publicly denied interest in extending his tenure beyond 2028, Zanu-PF adopted a resolution during its annual conference in October 2024, advocating for the extension of his term until 2030. However, the proposal has sparked internal divisions within the ruling party, with some lawmakers and war veterans opposing the idea, calling on Mnangagwa to step down when his term ends.
Key figures within Zanu-PF, including Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube, and ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera, have emerged as supporters of the 2030 agenda. However, concerns are mounting that the proposal may fail to gain the necessary support from ordinary Zimbabweans. This has prompted Mnangagwa's loyalists to pursue a parliamentary route, where Zanu-PF holds a two-thirds majority, rather than attempting a referendum, which could face public rejection.
The plan to move the motion in Parliament was revealed in a document last year, which identified Zanu-PF Bikita South legislator Energy Mutodi as the one expected to introduce the motion. Sources within the party suggest that there are fears about the outcome of a secret ballot, particularly as growing opposition to the 2030 agenda within Zanu-PF itself could lead to a humiliating defeat.
"We are in a catch-22 situation because what we gather from our interactions with constituencies is that ordinary people are not interested in this 2030 thing," said one Zanu-PF lawmaker and Politburo member. "During the day, some MPs may be seen chanting the 2030 slogans, but if a secret vote comes, there may be a few votes from Zanu-PF MPs in support of the motion. The level of suffering cannot be ignored."
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), led by Jameson Timba, has also weighed in, vowing to oppose the constitutional amendment in Parliament. Timba challenged Zanu-PF to hold a secret ballot, claiming that CCC would rally enough support to defeat the motion, with many Zanu-PF MPs reportedly against it.
"The CCC parliamentary caucus will oppose the motion by Zanu-PF to bring in a constitutional amendment bill to extend the Presidential term," Timba told The Standard. "We will defeat it with a significant number of Zanu-PF MPs having assured us that they will vote against this madness."
Timba also issued a challenge to Mnangagwa, accusing him of failing to publicly oppose the amendment while claiming to be a constitutionalist.
Zanu-PF's Chief Whip, Pupurai Togarepi, stated that the party would address the matter when it comes to Parliament. "The agenda is to deal with the outstanding business of the House. Mainly, it's about the legislative agenda set by His Excellency during the last state of the nation address," he said.
Zanu-PF legislator Sengezo Tshabangu, who played a pivotal role in securing the party's two-thirds majority after the CCC's recalls, has also expressed opposition to the 2030 proposal. Tshabangu's spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo, stated that the proposal was unnecessarily divisive and should be abandoned to avoid further national discord.
Meanwhile, CCC's Chief Whip, Edwin Mushoriwa, said the party had yet to deliberate on the matter but would provide meaningful comments once a draft constitutional bill was gazetted.
Timba, while targeting Zanu-PF ministers like Ziyambi Ziyambi, argued that the government should focus on improving the conditions of service for prison guards and other public sector workers rather than pursuing an extension of the president's term.
"The face of the 2030 agenda, Ziyambi Ziyambi, should redirect his energies to his co-mandate of justice by attending to the conditions of service of prison guards who are now surviving on the benevolence of prisoners," Timba said.
With tensions rising on both sides, the coming session in Parliament promises to be a significant moment in Zimbabwe's political landscape as the debate over the president's term extension takes shape.
While Mnangagwa has publicly denied interest in extending his tenure beyond 2028, Zanu-PF adopted a resolution during its annual conference in October 2024, advocating for the extension of his term until 2030. However, the proposal has sparked internal divisions within the ruling party, with some lawmakers and war veterans opposing the idea, calling on Mnangagwa to step down when his term ends.
Key figures within Zanu-PF, including Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube, and ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera, have emerged as supporters of the 2030 agenda. However, concerns are mounting that the proposal may fail to gain the necessary support from ordinary Zimbabweans. This has prompted Mnangagwa's loyalists to pursue a parliamentary route, where Zanu-PF holds a two-thirds majority, rather than attempting a referendum, which could face public rejection.
The plan to move the motion in Parliament was revealed in a document last year, which identified Zanu-PF Bikita South legislator Energy Mutodi as the one expected to introduce the motion. Sources within the party suggest that there are fears about the outcome of a secret ballot, particularly as growing opposition to the 2030 agenda within Zanu-PF itself could lead to a humiliating defeat.
"We are in a catch-22 situation because what we gather from our interactions with constituencies is that ordinary people are not interested in this 2030 thing," said one Zanu-PF lawmaker and Politburo member. "During the day, some MPs may be seen chanting the 2030 slogans, but if a secret vote comes, there may be a few votes from Zanu-PF MPs in support of the motion. The level of suffering cannot be ignored."
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), led by Jameson Timba, has also weighed in, vowing to oppose the constitutional amendment in Parliament. Timba challenged Zanu-PF to hold a secret ballot, claiming that CCC would rally enough support to defeat the motion, with many Zanu-PF MPs reportedly against it.
"The CCC parliamentary caucus will oppose the motion by Zanu-PF to bring in a constitutional amendment bill to extend the Presidential term," Timba told The Standard. "We will defeat it with a significant number of Zanu-PF MPs having assured us that they will vote against this madness."
Timba also issued a challenge to Mnangagwa, accusing him of failing to publicly oppose the amendment while claiming to be a constitutionalist.
Zanu-PF's Chief Whip, Pupurai Togarepi, stated that the party would address the matter when it comes to Parliament. "The agenda is to deal with the outstanding business of the House. Mainly, it's about the legislative agenda set by His Excellency during the last state of the nation address," he said.
Zanu-PF legislator Sengezo Tshabangu, who played a pivotal role in securing the party's two-thirds majority after the CCC's recalls, has also expressed opposition to the 2030 proposal. Tshabangu's spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo, stated that the proposal was unnecessarily divisive and should be abandoned to avoid further national discord.
Meanwhile, CCC's Chief Whip, Edwin Mushoriwa, said the party had yet to deliberate on the matter but would provide meaningful comments once a draft constitutional bill was gazetted.
Timba, while targeting Zanu-PF ministers like Ziyambi Ziyambi, argued that the government should focus on improving the conditions of service for prison guards and other public sector workers rather than pursuing an extension of the president's term.
"The face of the 2030 agenda, Ziyambi Ziyambi, should redirect his energies to his co-mandate of justice by attending to the conditions of service of prison guards who are now surviving on the benevolence of prisoners," Timba said.
With tensions rising on both sides, the coming session in Parliament promises to be a significant moment in Zimbabwe's political landscape as the debate over the president's term extension takes shape.
Source - the standard
