Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province has thrown its full weight behind the continuation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership beyond 2028, with all five of its District Coordinating Committees (DCCs) aligning on the resolution as their top priority.
The endorsement was announced on Thursday by Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial Chairperson, Cde Jabulani Sibanda, during a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting convened to finalise the province’s resolutions ahead of the ruling party’s 22nd National People’s Conference scheduled for Mutare next month. The meeting brought together senior provincial leaders, party structures, and grassroots representatives to consolidate positions that will be tabled at the national indaba.
Cde Sibanda, delivering his address to party members, highlighted the rare show of unity within the province, stressing that although districts produced a range of resolutions, one key theme dominated discussions. “We have districts in various DCCs, from DCC One to DCC Five, in our province where we have been drafting resolutions and considering what we want the party to do,” he said.
He went on to underscore the consistency of the message across the province’s structures. “Although the number of your resolutions differed, they all said the same thing. But there’s one resolution that is very important to our party, one that became number one in all our DCCs,” he said.
The chairperson revealed that the overriding resolution was that President Mnangagwa should remain in office well beyond 2028, ensuring continuity in leadership as the country advances toward its Vision 2030 development agenda. “I’m very proud that in all the DCCs, your number one resolution is the same: that by 2030, the party, the Government, and all its institutions must recognise that the President must still be serving as the President of our country,” declared Cde Sibanda, drawing thunderous applause from delegates.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo Province Backs Extension of President Mnangagwa’s Leadership Beyond 2028
Linking the resolution to the party’s longstanding emphasis on strong and unified leadership, Cde Sibanda said the province firmly believed that stability and cohesion at the top were essential for Zimbabwe’s progress. He argued that the party’s revolutionary goals could only be achieved if there was trust in experienced leadership capable of guiding the nation through both challenges and opportunities.
“But for us to do that, we must be united. For us to do that effectively, we must know that we have a leader who was elected considering his experience, revolutionary attitude, and ability,” Cde Sibanda said, signalling Bulawayo’s position to be formally presented at the national conference.
The announcement is significant as it reflects a growing momentum within some Zanu-PF provinces in calling for the extension of President Mnangagwa’s term of office. The President, who first came to power in 2017 before securing re-election in 2018 and again in 2023, is constitutionally expected to finish his second and final term in 2028. However, moves from certain quarters of the ruling party indicate rising calls for continuity, citing his role in spearheading economic reforms, infrastructure development, and the national Vision 2030 blueprint.
Party insiders say Bulawayo’s resolution is expected to add weight to debates at the upcoming Mutare conference, where the leadership question may take centre stage alongside economic, social, and governance issues. While no formal constitutional amendment has yet been initiated, the consistent push from grassroots structures could place pressure on the party to open dialogue on the matter in the coming years.
The PCC meeting also served as a platform for reviewing broader resolutions from the province. Beyond leadership questions, the committees discussed issues affecting Bulawayo residents, including the need for improved service delivery, youth empowerment, and acceleration of devolution programmes. Yet, as Cde Sibanda emphasized, none of these overshadowed the singular message around Mnangagwa’s leadership.
Political analysts observing the developments say the resolution reflects both loyalty to the incumbent and a broader strategy to maintain unity within the party. “Zanu-PF thrives on cohesion around a central figure,” one analyst noted. “By aligning early behind President Mnangagwa, provinces like Bulawayo are signalling stability, which is crucial for the party’s internal dynamics heading into 2028.”
Critics, however, are likely to view the resolution as a sign of entrenching leadership rather than fostering renewal within the ruling party. Some opposition voices have previously argued that extending presidential terms undermines democratic accountability. Still, within Zanu-PF, such resolutions are often presented as grassroots-driven endorsements rather than top-down directives, bolstering the perception of widespread support for the sitting leader.
For Bulawayo, a city that has historically had a complex relationship with national politics, the unanimous stance marks a notable moment of alignment with the central leadership. Cde Sibanda framed it as a reflection of collective vision rather than imposition, asserting that the decision emanated directly from the people’s structures.
As preparations intensify for the National People’s Conference in Mutare, all eyes will be on how provinces articulate their resolutions and whether the leadership extension proposal gains further traction across the party’s diverse constituencies. For now, Bulawayo has made its position clear: continuity of President Mnangagwa’s leadership is, in their view, essential to ensuring that Zimbabwe reaches its development milestones by 2030.
Source- Herald
