President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s loyalists turned the closing session of the ZANU-PF National People’s Conference in Mutare into a thunderous show of support for their leader, breaking into chants, songs, and applause as the party formally endorsed extending his presidency to 2030. The moment, however, was equally dramatic for another reason — the visible humiliation of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, whose supporters were drowned out by boos and jeers, signaling a decisive blow to his long-rumored 2028 presidential ambitions.
The pivotal moment came when Justice Minister and ZANU-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, one of Mnangagwa’s most vocal defenders, read out the conference resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to give Mnangagwa two additional years beyond his current term. The hall erupted in cheers, with delegates waving party flags and chanting, “2030 ndeya Emmerson!” (“2030 belongs to Emmerson!”).
“It is resolved that His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, shall have his term of office extended beyond 2028 to 2030,” Ziyambi announced to deafening applause. “The party and government are hereby directed to initiate the requisite legislative amendments to give full effect to this resolution before the 23rd National People’s Conference.”
Mnangagwa Loyalists Erupt in Celebration as ZANU-PF Moves to Extend President’s Rule to 2030
The declaration reaffirmed a similar motion first passed at the 2024 Bulawayo conference but went further by directing the Ministry of Justice, Parliament, and the ZANU-PF Politburo to immediately begin the formal constitutional process for the extension. Ziyambi praised Mnangagwa’s “visionary leadership” and credited him with driving Zimbabwe’s progress toward the government’s “Vision 2030” target of achieving upper-middle-income status.
“His Excellency has built roads, modernised infrastructure, and delivered tangible development. It is therefore only fitting that he continues the journey he began,” Ziyambi said, as jubilant delegates sang revolutionary songs and danced in celebration.
The ZANU-PF Youth League, led by Secretary Tino Machakaire, also threw its weight behind the proposal, insisting that the President’s leadership was indispensable to the completion of ongoing national projects. “In order for our revered President to see through the successful implementation of Vision 2030, we reaffirm that His Excellency continues being in office until 2030,” Machakaire declared, triggering another round of cheers and ululation from the packed auditorium.
Mnangagwa’s second and final term is constitutionally due to end in 2028, but the new resolution transforms a once-whispered ambition into official party policy. Although the President has previously styled himself as a “constitutionalist” who would not overstay his term, the Mutare declaration signals a well-orchestrated campaign within ZANU-PF to pave the way for his continued rule.
Political observers say the developments mark a turning point in the internal struggle between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Chiwenga, a rivalry that has simmered since the 2017 coup that ousted the late Robert Mugabe. At that time, Chiwenga — then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces — was widely credited with orchestrating the military intervention that propelled Mnangagwa to power. He was seen as kingmaker and presumptive successor.
However, once in office, Mnangagwa swiftly consolidated power, sidelining key military figures and gradually curbing Chiwenga’s influence. Between 2018 and 2023, Mnangagwa’s faction reshuffled senior army and intelligence officials, replacing them with loyalists while systematically weakening Chiwenga’s allies in both government and party structures. By 2019, the alliance that had toppled Mugabe had fractured into open distrust.
Reports of Chiwenga’s frustration over corruption, unfulfilled promises, and his alleged marginalisation only deepened the divide. In turn, Mnangagwa’s supporters began to view Chiwenga as an internal rival rather than a partner, accusing him of harboring ambitions to challenge for the presidency at the 2026 ZANU-PF elective congress.
The events in Mutare suggest that Mnangagwa’s camp has successfully tightened its grip. The open booing of Chiwenga — once a feared military commander — would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Delegates’ hostility toward him, combined with the roaring endorsement of Mnangagwa’s term extension, underscored how thoroughly the Vice President’s political base has eroded. Many of his former allies have either been reassigned, retired, or absorbed into Mnangagwa’s expanding patronage network.
Asked about the possibility of a leadership contest at the 2026 congress, party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa insisted that ZANU-PF remains democratic but emphasised the importance of respecting the will of the majority. “If people want to contest for the presidency, they will be free to do so because it’s a democratic party,” Mutsvangwa said. “But it also means that if you lose, you must comply with the wishes of the majority.”
Analysts say that while the official narrative frames the resolution as a democratic expression of party will, it effectively consolidates Mnangagwa’s dominance and neutralises any immediate succession challenge. Dr. Eldred Masunungure, a political analyst, described the move as “a strategic masterstroke” that leaves potential rivals politically stranded. “Mnangagwa’s camp has succeeded in turning succession speculation into loyalty theatre,” he said.
As the conference concluded, delegates from all ten provinces joined in a final chorus celebrating their leader’s extended mandate. For Mnangagwa’s supporters, it was a moment of triumph — a confirmation that their political project remains firmly on track. For Chiwenga and his backers, it was a sobering reminder of how swiftly fortunes can shift in Zimbabwe’s ever-fluid corridors of power.
With the Mutare resolution now formalised, one message resonated through the stadium and across the nation: Mnangagwa’s presidency is not ending in 2028. The road to 2030 has officially begun, and the party machinery has been set firmly in motion to ensure that it stays that way.
Source- ZimEye
