Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga refrained from chanting a slogan endorsing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s extended rule during a Zanu PF gathering in Chikomba, Mashonaland East province.
The slogan, “2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo” (2030 President Mnangagwa will still be ruling), has become a rallying call for Mnangagwa’s supporters who wish to see his presidency extended beyond the constitutional limit.
Chiwenga’s refusal to chant this slogan bewildered Mnangagwa’s loyalists, including John Paradza, the deputy minister of Environment, who had previously chanted it enthusiastically.
Instead, Chiwenga opted for a more generic party slogan, signaling his opposition to Mnangagwa’s extension beyond his second term ending in 2028.
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Zanu PF insiders suggest that Mnangagwa aims to amend the constitution to push the presidential election to 2030 while holding parliamentary elections as scheduled in 2028. This plan has faced strong resistance from Chiwenga and his military-backed faction within the party.
The current constitution stipulates that a person cannot serve more than two terms as president, and any amendments to extend term limits cannot benefit the incumbent.
Mnangagwa’s attempts to secure a third term faced significant opposition, leading to the abandonment of that idea. Despite his public statements about not seeking a third term, his loyalists have continued to push the 2030 slogan.
This has caused friction within the party, as Chiwenga, who was instrumental in Mnangagwa’s rise to power, is now poised to take over the leadership after Mnangagwa’s second term.
The plan to de-harmonize the election dates, allowing Mnangagwa to extend his presidency without facing an election in 2028, echoes a similar failed strategy by former President Robert Mugabe in 2005.
Mnangagwa’s faction remains determined to pursue this plan, despite significant opposition from within the party.
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