Zimbabwe-ZANU PF Mulling Mnangagwa’s Political Future

By Nevison Mpofu

President Mnangagwa’s allies who seem to be working stealthily behind the country’s cameras have vitiated deadly plans to amend the constitution. This is in favor of the current leader of the country. This will enable President Mnangagwa to carry on power and leadership from 2028 and beyond as the country’s President.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is being favored and pushed in an ensconced seat meant to take him in power beyond the resistant rule of the national constitution. The motive mind of those close to the favors of the President pushes him to exceed the constitutionally mandated two [2] terms.

The constitution legally sates that a President elected to power only serves two terms, that is 10 years.  Mnangagwa’s term is ending in 2028 after taking over from the deceased politician Robert Mugabe on 19 November 2017. Mugabe who had stayed in power for 37 years. died [ 2] two years after at Glen-Eagles Hospital in Malaysia .. These allies want a resolution for the amendment of the supreme law to be made at its annual people’ conference set for this year.

Many provinces across the country have made a stirred contribution towards amendment of the constitution. However, sources close to various media houses said that not all people in ZANU-PF wanted to push for Mnangagwa’s further hang on to power. A hiding source who never wished to be made public this week said a number of people from the provinces were seriously against the decision to bull-dose the constitution.

Harare Provincial Chairperson Masimirembwa contacted early this week said it is a decision from the country’s ten [10] provinces to push for a resolution in favor of Mnangagwa’s stay in power.

‘’We all know the maximum time a leader should stay in power.  Once a leader is elected by the people, that leader must only serve two [2] terms. What is being said is from the provinces. We are aware that our constitution states that a constitutionally elected President only serves for two terms.’’

Masimirembwa said that the clause which stipulates that an amendment cannot benefit the incumbent can be repealed. As a democratic country we want everything to move on according to the rule of law.

‘’This too can be changed to ensure the current President benefits from any amendment that extends the term length or removes term limits altogether.

ZANU PF spokes-person Christopher Mutsvangwa said he was aware that provinces had made resolutions to amend the constitution, but he made it clear that it was not the party’s position regarding all that was said.

‘’We are democratic party. Provinces are allowed to make their own resolutions that they carry to the conference’’,

‘’This is not the party’s position because politburo, the highest decision-making body has not discussed issues pertaining to this. All that will be put on table from the people will be discussed so that we have a way-forward’’, he ended  

 Legal Experts in Harare this week criticized all sentiments raised by the people in the party who crossed the path of the legal channels.  One of the analysts said it will pose dangers and at the same time it’s against the law to extent Presidential term. They said that once this is accepted in ZANU PF it meant submergence of democratic principles of which it becomes a lawless country.

Political analysts made clear political sentiments that such a move may be dangerous and at the same time a blow to the democratic state. This they said further can lead to protests as people become politicized from different angles thereby causing mayhem, terror and political divisions leading to conflicts.