Mnangagwa's term extension will protect Zanu-PF from succession risks

Zanu-PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa has openly acknowledged that the ruling party views the 2028 presidential succession as a potentially vulnerable period, arguing that extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure to 2030 would help safeguard the party from losing power during a leadership transition.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of the first reading of the controversial Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill in Parliament, Mutsvangwa compared political succession to a relay race, describing the transfer of leadership as a moment of weakness that opponents could exploit.

"When you are in a relay race, the point of vulnerability is when the stick is being handed from the previous runner to the next runner. That is the point of vulnerability," Mutsvangwa said.

"In 2028, some detractors have earmarked it as a point of opportunity for enemies… when the stick is going to be handed, they can find a way to snatch it so that the winning team loses the race or loses direction. And the winning team is one of the President."

His remarks provide a rare insight into the ruling party's rationale for supporting Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which has generated intense political debate amid growing internal divisions within Zanu-PF over proposals that could effectively extend Mnangagwa's stay in office beyond the constitutionally prescribed two five-year terms.

Mutsvangwa argued that retaining Mnangagwa until 2030 would strengthen party unity and ensure continuity at what he described as a critical juncture.

"It is very important that the party's authority and its leadership's authority be strong at that point in 2028 because that would be the point of vulnerability," he said.

"What our population has done in demonstrating where it stands in support of President ED Mnangagwa to continue to 2030 is an affirmation of the fact that the party is strong."

The outspoken politician also directed a message to party members believed to harbour presidential ambitions after Mnangagwa's eventual departure, urging them to exercise restraint in light of what he described as overwhelming support for the incumbent leader.

"There may be some who may have looked at 2028 as an opportunity to exercise ambition. It's legitimate within the party to have ambition," he said.

"But when things have gone the way they are within the party about the support of the President, we expect that ambition to respond with humility.

"For the time being, look at what the people said by their participation in CAB 3 and curtail your ambitions accordingly."

The comments are likely to fuel further criticism from opponents of Constitutional Amendment No. 3, who argue that the proposed legislation is designed primarily to delay an inevitable succession contest within Zanu-PF rather than address pressing national concerns.

Critics also contend that the Bill undermines constitutional safeguards by seeking to amend key provisions of the Constitution. Among the proposals attracting controversy are measures that would allow the President to appoint judges without public interviews and extend the tenure of senior judges beyond the current retirement age.

The Bill now faces parliamentary scrutiny and, if approved by the National Assembly, will proceed to the Senate before being submitted to President Mnangagwa for assent.

The debate surrounding the amendment is expected to intensify as political parties, civil society organisations and legal experts continue to weigh its implications for Zimbabwe's constitutional order and democratic governance.