Political Tensions Escalate in Zimbabwe
The ruling party’s decision to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s second term has sparked widespread unrest in Zimbabwe. The situation escalated this week when a hall in Harare was set on fire just hours before opposition groups planned to meet there to launch a campaign against Mnangagwa’s bid for an unconstitutional third term. In the country’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, riot police prevented a similar gathering from taking place.
Opposition leaders had intended to discuss strategies to counter the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) after it adopted a critical resolution at its annual conference in Mutare earlier this month. The resolution stated that, in recognition of the developmental milestones and socioeconomic progress under Mnangagwa, his term as president should be extended beyond 2028 to 2030.
This move has been widely criticized, especially given the persistent economic crisis in Zimbabwe. A recent report by the Institute for Security Studies highlighted that over 42% of the population lives in extreme poverty, casting doubt on the claim that Mnangagwa’s continued leadership is necessary for development.
The ZANU-PF resolution also noted that no significant steps had been taken to implement the previous Bulawayo resolution. As a result, the Secretary of Legal Affairs and Minister of Justice was directed to ensure that the resolution was fully implemented before the next annual conference in 2026. This includes initiating legislative amendments to give full effect to the decision.
However, Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution clearly states that a president may serve only two terms. Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 following a military coup that ousted the country’s founding president, Robert Mugabe. He was elected for a first term in 2018 and re-elected for a second term in 2023, with his current term set to end in 2028. Now, the ruling party has decided to extend it to 2030.
Mnangagwa’s efforts have divided not only the country but also within ZANU-PF itself. Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is reportedly opposed to the move, as he would likely succeed Mnangagwa if he stepped down in 2028. Chiwenga strongly criticized the so-called ED2030 plan during a September meeting of ZANU-PF’s Politburo.
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart, a member of the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), emphasized the constitutional safeguards in place to protect term limits. As a lawyer who helped draft the constitution, he understands the legal intricacies involved.
Coltart explained that any amendment to the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament, followed by a public referendum. Additionally, no amendment can benefit an incumbent. If such an amendment were to extend a term limit, it would require a second referendum.
He referred to suggestions from some in ZANU-PF to postpone the 2028 elections until 2030, which would implicitly extend Mnangagwa’s term. However, the constitution was designed to prevent such maneuvers.
Coltart warned that holding referenda on extending Mnangagwa’s term would be disastrous, as opposition is strong both within and outside ZANU-PF. Any referendum would effectively be a vote on Mnangagwa’s rule, which he would not want right now.
Historically, there have been only two constitutional referenda in the past 25 years. One in 2000 proposed a new constitution that increased presidential powers, which became a referendum on Mugabe’s rule and resulted in a loss. The other was the 2013 referendum on the current constitution, which was supported by 95% of the population. Neither outcome was favorable to Mnangagwa.
Coltart described the attacks on opposition premises this week as a warning to those attempting to rally against the extension of Mnangagwa’s term. The SAPES Trust premises in Harare were firebombed, and in Bulawayo, police blocked access to the Bulawayo Club where a meeting was planned.
With the opposition in disarray due to infiltration and undermining by ZANU-PF, the plans to amend the constitution have become a rallying cry for Mnangagwa’s opponents.
Mnangagwa appears to be preparing for a major battle within the party. Reports suggest he has gifted new cars to all 300 members of the ZANU-PF Central Committee and provided top-tier Toyota Land Cruisers to provincial heads. He has also removed Chiwenga loyalists from key positions.
These actions signal a growing conflict between the party’s top leaders, with no signs of stability or prosperity for Zimbabwe, already one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the region.
Kenneth Mtata, General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, warned that Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his term could undermine efforts to re-engage the global community and bring Zimbabwe back into the international fold. It could also jeopardize negotiations to restructure Zimbabwe’s international debt, led by the African Development Bank, and discourage foreign investment.
Despite these concerns, the international community’s interest in Zimbabwe has waned, as the world becomes more transactional and less focused on moral issues.
