Zanu-PF's 2030 resolution dampens spirits of Zimbabweans in SA

Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu-PF, recently passed a resolution at its national people's conference in Mutare to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure to 2030, sparking concern among Zimbabweans living in South Africa, who fear it deepens political uncertainty and economic hardship.

The party directed its legal secretary and Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, to implement the constitutional changes within a year. President Mnangagwa's constitutionally mandated two terms are set to end in 2028, though he has stated he does not intend to remain beyond them.

For Zimbabweans abroad, the proposed extension signals a prolonged crisis. Butholezwe Nyathi, chief operations officer of the African Development Consortium in South Africa, said the move dashes hopes for meaningful political and economic reform.

"The suffering of Zimbabweans in foreign lands will also be extended," Nyathi said. He attributed continued emigration to economic collapse and political failure, noting that Mnangagwa's prolonged rule offers no incentive for citizens to return.

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) chairperson in South Africa, Trust Ndlovu, now director of SADC Citizens Democratic Society, said the resolution increases vulnerability for diasporans.

"Their plight is exacerbated by political uncertainty back home, where Zanu-PF have resolved to bypass 2028 elections. Many see a bleak future with no real change," Ndlovu said.

Zimbabweans and other black immigrants in South Africa have faced targeted attacks by vigilante groups such as Dudula, which have reportedly restricted access to schools and healthcare for foreign nationals.

Felix Magalela Sibanda, executive director of the Research Institute of Zimbabwe, described Zanu-PF's 2030 agenda as "pathetic" and potentially destabilising. "It lowers the entire fabric of Zimbabwean society and risks brewing dangerous tensions," he said.

Other observers highlighted economic challenges at home as a further concern. Vumani Ndlovu, coordinator of the Rural Community Empowerment Trust, warned that returning diasporans may worsen unemployment, while Nhlanhla Moses Ncube, speaker of the Nkayi Community Parliament, said the situation leaves Zimbabweans abroad "trapped between abuse in South Africa and economic hardship at home."

The resolution has thus reignited debate over the country's governance and the future prospects for Zimbabweans both within the country and in the diaspora.