Minister Garwe Backs Mnangagwa to Lead Until 2030, Dismisses Third-Term Claims

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has defended calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030, insisting that the proposal does not equate to seeking a third term.

Speaking at a provincial coordinating committee meeting in Marondera, Garwe dismissed suggestions that extending Mnangagwa’s leadership beyond the constitutional limit implied an unconstitutional extension of power.

“We want him to take us to 2030; we did not say we want a third term. Don’t put words in our mouths. We only said, ‘President, take us to 2030,’” he said.

Garwe suggested that if the President continued leading beyond 2028, other elected officials would also retain their positions.

“This means that if you are a councillor now, you will remain a councillor until 2030, just like MPs and senators. If you don’t want that, we will hold a by-election to replace you,” he added.

Experience and Institutional Memory
The minister argued that Mnangagwa’s experience and deep-rooted knowledge of the ruling party made him the best candidate to steer the country forward.

“So far, we have already agreed to persuade the President. We are going to persuade him to understand where we are coming from and where we want him to take us to,” Garwe told delegates.

Highlighting Mnangagwa’s long history within ZANU-PF, Garwe said the President’s institutional memory and leadership skills were unmatched.

“In my view, His Excellency is the only person who is more senior even among war veterans, who has the institutional memory of the party because it was formed when he was there, as a youth,” he said.

He emphasized that Mnangagwa’s policies had transformed Zimbabwe’s socio-economic landscape, further justifying why he should continue in office.

“He has all that institutional memory that we need, and that must be documented, coupled with the beautiful, brilliant policies of leadership that he has demonstrated so far,” Garwe added.

While Zimbabwe’s Constitution currently limits the presidency to two terms, discussions within ZANU-PF around Mnangagwa’s continued leadership beyond 2028 suggest a potential push for constitutional amendments or alternative political maneuvers.