War vets, ex-generals tear into ED2030 Bill

The Zanu-PF proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term by two years has triggered internal resistance, with several war veterans and retired generals openly rejecting the plan.

The Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, gazetted last month, seeks to extend the current presidential and parliamentary terms from 2028 to 2030, while also proposing the abolition of direct presidential elections and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. Zanu-PF intends to pass the amendments using its two-thirds parliamentary majority, reportedly with backing from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by Sengezo Tshabangu.

However, ex-combatants insist that any changes affecting presidential term limits should be subjected to a public referendum. In submissions to Parliament, the veterans warned against bypassing the will of the people, stressing that the Constitution belongs to all Zimbabweans and not to any political party.

The letter, signed by Retired Air Marshal Henry Muchena, recalled a 2002 declaration by the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe, which emphasised that national leadership must operate within a "straitjacket of principle." The group accused opportunists, described as "zvigananda" (money-bags), of attempting to manipulate the Constitution to serve personal ambitions.

"In the year 2002, through the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe, a soldier of immense honour, we as senior commanders made our position clear to the nation. Today, we watch with sorrow as zvigananda attempt to invert this entirely by bending the nation's foundational law to serve their own ambitions and protect their own interests," the submissions read.

The veterans noted that during Operation Restore Legacy in 2017, they deferred to the Constitution, a precedent they say must guide today's decision-making. They called on Parliament to uphold the principle that the "will of the majority must be the final word" through a referendum.

Zanu-PF officials, including former party legal officer Paul Mangwana, maintain that a referendum is unnecessary unless a term is extended by more than three years. Parliamentary leaders have confirmed that submissions from various stakeholders are still under review.

President Mnangagwa, who has previously pledged to retire in 2028, last month presided over a Cabinet meeting approving the proposed constitutional changes, fueling debate over the future of Zimbabwe's electoral and governance framework.

The standoff highlights growing tension within Zanu-PF between party loyalists and ex-combatants, whose influence and historical standing continue to shape the country's political discourse.