Opinion / Columnist
Mnangagwa is a long-distance runner
2 hrs ago |
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The real problem is that General Constantino Chiwenga allowed Emmerson Mnangagwa to remove the running mate clause through Constitutional Amendment No. 2 in 2021.
Mnangagwa is a long-distance runner. He plans his moves carefully and, whether we like him or not, we have to acknowledge that. He knew exactly what he wanted before the 2023 election, which is why he supported the removal of the running mate clause.
The running mate clause meant that a President and Vice President were elected together on the same ticket, making it impossible for the President to simply dismiss the Vice President. Similar systems have worked elsewhere in the region. Malawi is a good example. When President Bingu wa Mutharika died in office, constitutional provisions ensured that Vice President Joyce Banda succeeded him despite attempts to sideline her politically.
Allowing the removal of the running mate clause was Chiwenga's first major mistake. As a result, he now serves as Vice President entirely at the pleasure of Emmerson Mnangagwa. He is appointed, not elected. That means he can also be removed.
If Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 becomes law, it will further consolidate Mnangagwa's control over the succession process. In practical terms, Chiwenga could be dismissed and replaced by another Vice President, something that would have been far more difficult under the running mate system.
That is why this Bill is not really about Chiwenga biding his time and waiting for his turn. It is about eliminating him as a serious constitutional contender for the presidency. Once the Bill becomes law, Mnangagwa will have even greater room to reshape the political landscape in his favour.
He could remove Chiwenga and appoint someone else, and that possibility is precisely why the battle over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has become so significant for Chiwenga and his allies.
Mnangagwa is a long-distance runner. He plans his moves carefully and, whether we like him or not, we have to acknowledge that. He knew exactly what he wanted before the 2023 election, which is why he supported the removal of the running mate clause.
The running mate clause meant that a President and Vice President were elected together on the same ticket, making it impossible for the President to simply dismiss the Vice President. Similar systems have worked elsewhere in the region. Malawi is a good example. When President Bingu wa Mutharika died in office, constitutional provisions ensured that Vice President Joyce Banda succeeded him despite attempts to sideline her politically.
If Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 becomes law, it will further consolidate Mnangagwa's control over the succession process. In practical terms, Chiwenga could be dismissed and replaced by another Vice President, something that would have been far more difficult under the running mate system.
That is why this Bill is not really about Chiwenga biding his time and waiting for his turn. It is about eliminating him as a serious constitutional contender for the presidency. Once the Bill becomes law, Mnangagwa will have even greater room to reshape the political landscape in his favour.
He could remove Chiwenga and appoint someone else, and that possibility is precisely why the battle over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has become so significant for Chiwenga and his allies.
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