President Emmerson Mnangagwa is once again plotting to cling to power beyond his constitutionally mandated second term. While public talk about succession has died down, backdoor deals and quiet maneuvers inside ZANU PF are intensifying. The noise may have faded, but the fight is far from over. His allies are preparing to push yet another resolution at the upcoming ZANU PF conference in Mutare from 13 to 18 October. The goal this time is to change the constitution itself so Mnangagwa can rule until 2030 or beyond. Last year in Bulawayo, they passed a resolution to open the door to such an extension. Now they want to go all the way and lock it in.
Ahead of the 2 July politburo meeting, the party tasked Patrick Chinamasa and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to figure out how to turn the 2023 resolution into law. Even though Chinamasa initially resisted the idea, he has now joined the bandwagon, likely influenced by his closeness to businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei. Tagwirei is not just a billionaire with government contracts, but also a powerful force within the party who now wants a seat in the Central Committee. He has every interest in seeing Mnangagwa stay in power and continue shielding him and others from accountability.
Mnangagwa continues to claim he does not want to stay beyond 2028, but the reality is different. His silence is not neutrality. It is quiet approval. His allies would not dare make these moves unless they knew he wanted them to. What makes this entire episode more disturbing is the betrayal it represents. Mnangagwa came to power through a military coup in 2017, backed by his then-ally Constantino Chiwenga. Now he is working overtime to make sure Chiwenga never takes over. He wants to handpick a successor who will protect his legacy and interests, not one chosen by the constitution or the people.
The danger became clearer when Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe shamelessly told journalists that there will be no elections in 2028. According to him, the next vote will be in 2030 and the Mutare conference will ensure the constitution is changed to reflect that. But Zimbabwe’s constitution is clear. Presidential elections must happen every five years. Anything else is illegal. Garwe also boldly declared that all ten ZANU PF provinces support this unconstitutional plan. That alone proves this is not an individual opinion. It is a coordinated assault on democracy.
By avoiding a public referendum, which is required for amending term limits, ZANU PF is showing its true colours. They know Zimbabweans will not vote to keep Mnangagwa in power. They fear the ballot and are using Parliament as a weapon to delay elections instead. Legal experts have already condemned this approach as a silent coup, and they are right. This is not just a political disagreement. It is a calculated attempt to destroy the rule of law.
The whole scheme will take centre stage at the Mutare conference to be held at the Polytechnic College. Mnangagwa’s loyalists are pushing hard to ensure he continues as both party leader and national president. They disguise this under talk of stability and a so-called God-ordained vision, but the truth is simpler. They are scared. Scared of what Chiwenga might do. Scared of the people. Scared of change.
This is not leadership. It is selfishness dressed as vision. It is power hoarding disguised as patriotism. The people of Zimbabwe are not fools. We see through the lies. We know what this is. The time to speak up is now. The time to act is now. If we allow one man to bend the constitution for his own benefit, then no law will ever protect us again. The future of Zimbabwe must never be decided in secret meetings. It must be decided by the people.