Zimbabwe's brewing scandal over Mnangagwa term extension

In the corridors of power in Zimbabwe, a storm is gathering that threatens the very foundations of the nation's constitutional democracy.

Revelations from investigative reports and anonymous sources point to an alleged conspiracy involving senior Zanu-PF officials, government ministers, and members of the judiciary. The aim? To unlawfully extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure beyond its 2028 constitutional limit to 2030, bypassing mandatory public referendums.

This manoeuvre, described by critics as a "sinister political plot," underscores deepening divisions within the ruling party and raises alarms about the erosion of the rule of law in a country still grappling with its post-independence legacy.

The 2013 Zimbabwean Constitution, overwhelmingly approved by over 90 percent of voters, explicitly caps the presidency at two five-year terms. Mnangagwa, who ascended to power following a 2017 military coup against Robert Mugabe, is currently in his second term. Amending these limits demands a two-thirds parliamentary majority in both the National Assembly and Senate, followed by at least one national referendum, with experts arguing that two referendums are necessary: one to abolish term limits generally and another to permit the incumbent to benefit. These safeguards were crafted to prevent a recurrence of Mugabe's 37-year rule, which ended amid economic collapse and widespread repression.

Yet, according to sources cited in recent reports, Zanu-PF leaders are orchestrating a shortcut. The plan allegedly involves proxies filing sham applications to the Constitutional Court challenging the 2030 extension bid.

These applications, ostensibly oppositional, would be dismissed on technical grounds by sympathetic judges, creating a judicial precedent that validates the extension without public input. A senior government official, speaking anonymously, labelled this as "constitutional evasion and corrosion," warning that it embodies "Banana Republic politics" rooted in a dictatorial mindset unbecoming of a nation 45 years post-independence.

Prominent lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has amplified these concerns through cryptic social media posts, describing a "bizarre dream" involving flawed court filings and a US$3 million payment to a figure in Dodoma, Tanzania's administrative capital. Mpofu's insinuations target applications like one drafted by Moreprecision Muzadzi, viewed as part of the deceptive strategy. He has clashed publicly with colleague Method Ndlovu over alleged involvement in the scheme, though Mpofu insists his remarks were mere "nightmares."

Such exchanges highlight the judiciary's vulnerability, echoing past scandals under former Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, who was accused of partisan rulings favouring Zanu-PF.

Key Zanu-PF figures implicated include Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and party Secretary-General Jacob Mudenda, who also serves as Parliament Speaker. They are said to collaborate with legal strategists to advance the agenda.

Supporters like lawyer Tawanda Nyambirai argue that the constitution limits terms but not tenure duration, a claim dismissed by critics as sophistry.

Meanwhile, the party's recent annual conference in Mutare endorsed exploring extensions, igniting controversy amid factional rifts.

Mnangagwa's push is seen as an effort to sideline Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, his former coup ally, while favouring successors such as businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei or military commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda.

Recent developments intensify the scrutiny. Zanu-PF youths have escalated calls, advocating for Mnangagwa's term to stretch to 2040, while allegations surface of staged court challenges in Bulawayo to legitimise the 2030 plan.

Opposition figures and civil society decry these moves as an assault on democracy, promising legal battles..

International observers, including US lawmakers, have warned against such extensions, though Zimbabwean officials reject these as foreign interference. Reports of violence linked to the bid further underscore the tensions, with intra-party divisions fostering instability.

Analytically, this scandal exposes systemic frailties in Zimbabwe's governance.

The alleged judicial collusion erodes public trust in institutions meant to uphold the constitution, potentially inviting broader unrest in a nation plagued by economic woes, corruption, and human rights concerns.

Mnangagwa's administration, accused of suppressing dissent since his 2018 and 2023 elections, risks alienating even party loyalists fearful of referendums that could reject the extension. Succession battles, amplified by this plot, mirror historical patterns where power consolidation trumps democratic norms, perpetuating a cycle of authoritarianism.

Critics argue that genuine extensions should follow transparent processes, allowing citizens to decide via referendums. Bypassing these invites comparisons to Mugabe's era, where constitutional manipulations entrenched one-man rule.

If successful, the 2030 agenda could delay elections, extending parliamentary and council terms, thus benefiting incumbents amid allegations of bribery, including land allocations to MPs to secure votes.

The broader implications are dire: weakened democratic institutions could deter foreign investment, exacerbate poverty, and fuel emigration.

As Zimbabwe approaches its Vision 2030 for upper-middle-income status, such scandals undermine progress, prioritising personal ambition over national welfare. Civil society urges vigilance, calling for independent probes to safeguard the constitution.

In a nation yearning for stability, this episode serves as a stark reminder that true leadership emerges from adherence to the law, not evasion of it. As debates rage, the world watches whether Zimbabwe will reaffirm its democratic commitments or slide further into the shadows of autocracy.