Published: 10 hours ago

A widening political rift over plans to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term to 2030 has triggered fears of a sweeping purge in Parliament, with both Zanu-PF and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators suspected of resisting the agenda reportedly facing recall.

Sources within both parties told this publication that Mnangagwa's loyalists are pushing to replace non-committal MPs with fierce supporters of the "2030 agenda" - a plan that would see the 83-year-old ruler remain in power two years beyond his constitutionally mandated term, which ends in 2028.

The development comes amid deepening tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely believed to be positioning himself to succeed the president.

Insiders say the battle for succession spilled into the Zanu-PF politburo before last month's annual conference in Mutare, where a resolution to extend Mnangagwa's term was controversially "adopted."

Party sources allege the resolution was not voted on, but rather "read out as if passed" by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who also serves as the party's legal secretary.

"This year, the 2030 proposal was illegally smuggled in and misrepresented as new business," said one senior Zanu-PF insider.
"It breaks constitutional protocol and was never subjected to procedural voting. Even President Mnangagwa avoided saying ‘2030' in his speech, carefully managing appearances."

According to party insiders, Zanu-PF losing candidates from the 2023 elections - some of whom recently met Mnangagwa at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe - are being lined up to replace "unenthusiastic" MPs through by-elections once the recalls begin.

"Some MPs sympathetic to Chiwenga will be purged, either through recalls or arrests under the guise of an anti-corruption drive," said another source.

The same strategy, it is alleged, could also target opposition legislators within the CCC who are seen as potentially unwilling to support a constitutional amendment extending Mnangagwa's rule.

Legal experts advising Zanu-PF are reportedly exploring ways to avoid a public referendum, preferring instead to push the term-extension through Parliament, where Zanu-PF already enjoys a supermajority.

Tensions around the 2030 proposal came to a head during Mnangagwa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week at the new Mt Hampden Parliament Building.

A power blackout plunged the chamber into darkness for more than 10 minutes - an embarrassing moment for the president and his delegation - and, according to witnesses, provided cover for MPs to voice rare dissent.

"Some MPs shouted that the country is rotten, others mocked the power outage saying the president had finally experienced what ordinary Zimbabweans go through daily," said a legislator who attended the session.

Mnangagwa was forced to continue his speech under the light of a mobile phone torch as panicky MPs whispered, "Tiri safe here munoumu?" ("Are we even safe here?").

Once electricity was restored, the 2030 loyalists seized the moment to chant slogans in support of the extension, with one MP shouting:

"Mungadzime magetsi, asi mwenje we2030 haudzimike!" ("You can turn off the lights, but the light of 2030 will never go out!")

A small group of CCC MPs reportedly joined in the chants, singing "Chisungo takasunga" ("We have a binding resolution"), signaling how politically charged the atmosphere had become.

The embarrassing incident prompted Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to issue a stern warning, while Zesa Holdings swiftly suspended Abel Gurupira, acting managing director of its subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC), pending investigations.

Political analysts say the episode symbolises the fragility of Zimbabwe's political landscape - where power struggles, patronage, and fear continue to shape governance.

"The recalls will serve as both punishment and warning," said one analyst.
"Mnangagwa is tightening his grip, ensuring only the most loyal voices remain - even if it means rewriting both the party's rules and the Constitution."

If the 2030 push succeeds, Mnangagwa would extend his presidency to 15 years, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in Southern Africa.

For now, however, the power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga - and the growing unease within both ruling and opposition ranks - signals that the path to 2030 may be anything but smooth.
- The Standard

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