News / National
Zanu-PF targets Parly for ED2030 agenda
2 hrs ago |
109 Views
The ruling Zanu-PF's 22nd annual national people's conference, which concludes today in Mutare, is expected to issue a directive to ministers, legislators, and government functionaries to abandon all other commitments and focus on driving a constitutional amendment that would enable President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond 2028.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing factionalism within the party and simmering tensions over the so-called "2030 agenda," a campaign reportedly aimed at extending Mnangagwa's rule to align with his Vision 2030 economic blueprint.
Although Mnangagwa has publicly maintained that he is a "constitutionalist" who will step down at the end of his second term in 2028, multiple sources within the party say the conference will formalise a political strategy to amend the Constitution through Parliament rather than a national referendum.
The conference opened under a cloud of division, with reports of serious internal rifts and bitter exchanges among senior party officials.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga's dossier, reportedly tabled before the Zanu-PF politburo last month, has deepened tensions after it was sharply criticised in a leaked rebuttal by the newly appointed Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Chiwenga also came under public attack from the party's national spokesperson during a press briefing in Harare on the eve of the conference - a rare display of open hostility at the highest levels of Zanu-PF.
Despite the friction, the party's top leadership - comprising Mnangagwa, Chiwenga, Kembo Mohadi, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and Jacob Mudenda - sought to present a show of unity during the conference's opening session. Delegates observed a moment of solidarity as the presidium held hands during the opening prayer and collectively urged members to avoid divisive rhetoric, including the "ED2030" slogan.
However, behind the scenes, the 2030 term-extension campaign dominated discussions, with senior figures confirming that the focus was shifting to Parliament as the most viable route to amend the Constitution.
"We have Resolution 1 from the Bulawayo conference, and all the provinces have agreed that the only solution is going the parliamentary way," said one senior party insider. "As we complete this conference, you will see a declaration from the people that we are going to extend the presidential term beyond 2028."
Another insider revealed that ministers and MPs aligned with Zanu-PF would be expected to "deliver results" in pushing the constitutional change or risk their political future.
"The structures are saying let us go for a constitutional change and go beyond 2028. Those who fail us as a party should know that their fate with the party is sealed," the source said.
Delegates from several provinces - particularly Midlands, Masvingo, and Mashonaland West - were reported to have led chants and songs promoting the 2030 agenda, outshouting other provincial delegations.
Senior figures such as Christopher Mutsvangwa and Ziyambi Ziyambi, both from Mashonaland West, have emerged as key proponents of the agenda, which sources say was originally conceptualised in Midlands and Masvingo, Mnangagwa's home provinces.
In his address to delegates, President Mnangagwa struck a conciliatory tone, reminding party members that Zanu-PF "is not private property" and must remain guided by its Constitution.
"All structures are directed to expose and reject perpetrators of tribalism and regionalism, among other narratives that divide the party," he said.
He also issued a stern warning against corruption, describing it as a "cancer" threatening national development and the party's credibility.
"Corruption, corruption, corruption of any kind has no place among the rank and file of the party membership and, indeed, in our country. Excesses and wanton acts for corrupt ends risk alienating the party from the masses and must be expunged from our body politic," Mnangagwa said.
Turning to the party's critics, Mnangagwa accused "opportunists" of spreading falsehoods to tarnish Zimbabwe's image.
"Our country is not for sale. Spreading false information, denigrating one's country, the leadership and people can never be good for our national pride, image and dignity," he declared. "Those opportunists who tarnish our country for short-sighted, ulterior political motives will never succeed."
As the Mutare conference wraps up, all eyes are on the resolutions to be adopted - particularly whether Zanu-PF will formally announce its intention to pursue a constitutional amendment to extend Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028, a move likely to reignite debate over Zimbabwe's commitment to democratic governance and constitutionalism.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing factionalism within the party and simmering tensions over the so-called "2030 agenda," a campaign reportedly aimed at extending Mnangagwa's rule to align with his Vision 2030 economic blueprint.
Although Mnangagwa has publicly maintained that he is a "constitutionalist" who will step down at the end of his second term in 2028, multiple sources within the party say the conference will formalise a political strategy to amend the Constitution through Parliament rather than a national referendum.
The conference opened under a cloud of division, with reports of serious internal rifts and bitter exchanges among senior party officials.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga's dossier, reportedly tabled before the Zanu-PF politburo last month, has deepened tensions after it was sharply criticised in a leaked rebuttal by the newly appointed Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Chiwenga also came under public attack from the party's national spokesperson during a press briefing in Harare on the eve of the conference - a rare display of open hostility at the highest levels of Zanu-PF.
Despite the friction, the party's top leadership - comprising Mnangagwa, Chiwenga, Kembo Mohadi, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and Jacob Mudenda - sought to present a show of unity during the conference's opening session. Delegates observed a moment of solidarity as the presidium held hands during the opening prayer and collectively urged members to avoid divisive rhetoric, including the "ED2030" slogan.
However, behind the scenes, the 2030 term-extension campaign dominated discussions, with senior figures confirming that the focus was shifting to Parliament as the most viable route to amend the Constitution.
"We have Resolution 1 from the Bulawayo conference, and all the provinces have agreed that the only solution is going the parliamentary way," said one senior party insider. "As we complete this conference, you will see a declaration from the people that we are going to extend the presidential term beyond 2028."
Another insider revealed that ministers and MPs aligned with Zanu-PF would be expected to "deliver results" in pushing the constitutional change or risk their political future.
"The structures are saying let us go for a constitutional change and go beyond 2028. Those who fail us as a party should know that their fate with the party is sealed," the source said.
Delegates from several provinces - particularly Midlands, Masvingo, and Mashonaland West - were reported to have led chants and songs promoting the 2030 agenda, outshouting other provincial delegations.
Senior figures such as Christopher Mutsvangwa and Ziyambi Ziyambi, both from Mashonaland West, have emerged as key proponents of the agenda, which sources say was originally conceptualised in Midlands and Masvingo, Mnangagwa's home provinces.
In his address to delegates, President Mnangagwa struck a conciliatory tone, reminding party members that Zanu-PF "is not private property" and must remain guided by its Constitution.
"All structures are directed to expose and reject perpetrators of tribalism and regionalism, among other narratives that divide the party," he said.
He also issued a stern warning against corruption, describing it as a "cancer" threatening national development and the party's credibility.
"Corruption, corruption, corruption of any kind has no place among the rank and file of the party membership and, indeed, in our country. Excesses and wanton acts for corrupt ends risk alienating the party from the masses and must be expunged from our body politic," Mnangagwa said.
Turning to the party's critics, Mnangagwa accused "opportunists" of spreading falsehoods to tarnish Zimbabwe's image.
"Our country is not for sale. Spreading false information, denigrating one's country, the leadership and people can never be good for our national pride, image and dignity," he declared. "Those opportunists who tarnish our country for short-sighted, ulterior political motives will never succeed."
As the Mutare conference wraps up, all eyes are on the resolutions to be adopted - particularly whether Zanu-PF will formally announce its intention to pursue a constitutional amendment to extend Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028, a move likely to reignite debate over Zimbabwe's commitment to democratic governance and constitutionalism.
Source - NewsDay
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
