Zanu PF conference approves resolution allowing Mnangagwa to rule beyond 2028…. BUT there will be no third term for him!

Bulawayo – The Zanu-PF Annual People’s Conference in Bulawayo ended with a dramatic twist on Saturday. While the party overwhelmingly passed the resolution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term to 2030, the President himself quickly rejected the proposal, leaving the political landscape in flux.

The decision, announced to a jubilant auditorium by the party’s secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, proposed extending Mnangagwa’s term beyond the constitutionally mandated 2028 limit.

The proposal, which was the result of intense lobbying efforts by the president’s ardent supporters, stated: “21st Century. Zanu PF public conference has decided to extend President HE Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term from 2028 to 2030. “We understand President Mnangagwa’s leadership, hence the motivation for this conference, to enable him to move beyond 2028.”

It was also stated that the necessary constitutional amendments would be initiated to implement this change. However, Chinamasa quickly clarified that this decision lacked the support of the President. He stressed that despite the party’s decision, Mnangagwa is determined to abide by the constitution and will not seek a term after 2028.

“The solution will go nowhere,” Chinamasa said.

Detailing the legal complexities involved in extending presidential terms, he explained that two separate constitutional amendments would be required: one to eliminate presidential term limits and the other to address constitutional restrictions on serving beyond 2028.

Each change would require a separate referendum. Chinamasa disclosed that he had consulted Mnangagwa on three separate occasions and received consistent assurances that the President would not seek an extension.

“I was given a meeting in August where I raised the issue. I needed to know what his location was. I was given an answer but I was not satisfied. I requested another meeting in mid-September. I was given the same answer I was given in August. Just to be sure, I called and asked for another meeting on Tuesday, with the president giving me permission. I was given the same answer I was given in August and September.

“Just before I took the podium, I whispered into the president’s ear: ‘Is what you told me in three meetings still valid?’ And it was emphatic, still valid. His Excellency says he is a constitutionalist. ‘I will abide by the constitution that limits presidential terms, I have no intention of serving after 2028,’ he says. This will be sad news for you, but please do not stone the messenger,” Chinamasa narrated.

He also emphasized that the decision was subject to Mnangagwa’s approval and could not be implemented without his express consent.

“We have the decision, but as we leave here we must understand that this is not going anywhere because the President has emphasized that he will not serve after 2028.. “Chinamasa emphasized very much that he had a hand in the preparation of this draft constitution and that he cannot be seen as the first person to violate what he has put in place at the national and global level,” he said.

However, the President’s decisive rejection of the decision did not completely eliminate the speculations. The fact that the resolution was passed unanimously, with the support of all ten provinces and thematic committees, suggests some level of encouragement, or at least acquiescence, from Mnangagwa.

His loyalists often take their cues from him, especially on matters of major political importance. The timing of the decision, which comes amid intense political maneuvering within Zanu-PF, further fuels these speculations.

This political maneuver is particularly notable given the known opposition of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his faction within the party. Chiwenga’s apparent silence on the issue at the conference serves as another indicator of tensions within the ruling party. Mnangagwa’s apparent willingness to allow the decision to stand despite his opposition points to a complex political strategy.

The president’s claim that he is a constitutionalist is met with skepticism by some circles. Exiled former cabinet minister and former Zanu PF political commissioner Savior Kasukuwere voiced his doubts about X, stating: “The worst mistake a person can make is to give power to a corrupt and evil man because you will not remove him. From day one, he will find ways to strengthen himself so that his past never catches up with him. A man who has so much to lose never gives up…”

Related Zimbabwe Latest News