Zanu PF’s Manicaland provincial leadership has reignited the ruling party’s controversial “ED 2030” agenda, openly calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond the current constitutional limits. The move, unveiled in a series of provincial meetings, comes amid growing factional manoeuvring within the party as leaders position themselves ahead of the 22nd National People’s Conference scheduled for October.
For years, Zanu PF has been dogged by internal disputes over succession, with loyalties often divided between Mnangagwa’s backers and those aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. While Mnangagwa’s camp insists the 82-year-old leader is best placed to secure continuity and stability, Chiwenga is widely believed to harbour presidential ambitions of his own, a factor that continues to fuel factional mistrust.
In the past fortnight, Manicaland structures convened a series of meetings that culminated in two key resolutions. The first was a pledge of unwavering support for Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond 2030, effectively pushing for constitutional amendments to lift term limits. The second was a call for tougher measures against drug and substance abuse, which provincial leaders described as a “national crisis” threatening the future of young people.
Manicaland Breathes New Life into Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030
Announcing the resolutions, Manicaland provincial chairman Tawanda Mukodza said they reflected grassroots sentiment rather than elite-driven politics. “The people desire that President Mnangagwa remains in office beyond 2030, and are calling for the necessary constitutional amendments to facilitate this. As a party, we must respect the will of the people,” Mukodza declared.
He added that the resolutions would be consolidated into a single position paper at an inter-district conference scheduled for next week. The document will then be presented at the National People’s Conference as Manicaland’s official submission. According to Mukodza, the process will be guided by senior party figures, among them Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya and Zanu PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Patrick Chinamasa.
Political analysts say the timing of the Manicaland resolution is telling. With the national conference just weeks away, factions are jostling to dominate the agenda. Endorsing Mnangagwa beyond 2030 could be a strategic attempt to block succession discussions and weaken Chiwenga’s prospects. Others, however, view it as a risky move that could plunge the party into deeper divisions, especially given the constitutional hurdles involved in altering presidential term limits.
Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution, which Mnangagwa himself signed into law as then-Justice Minister, stipulates a maximum of two five-year terms for the presidency. Mnangagwa’s current second term, which began after the disputed 2023 elections, legally bars him from seeking re-election in 2028. To remain in office beyond that, Zanu PF would have to push through a constitutional amendment—an act likely to draw fierce criticism from opposition parties, civil society, and the international community.
Despite these legal and political constraints, Mnangagwa’s loyalists in Manicaland insist that the president’s leadership is indispensable for achieving the government’s Vision 2030, a blueprint aimed at transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy within the next five years. Supporters argue that continuity at the top is necessary for policy stability and economic recovery.
Beyond the succession issue, the province also pushed a hardline stance against drug and substance abuse, which it described as a “cancer” eating away at communities. Mukodza said the province was ready to spearhead awareness campaigns, push for stricter enforcement of existing laws, and lobby for harsher penalties against drug dealers. “We cannot sit idly by while our youth are destroyed. The fight against drugs must be intensified at all levels,” he said.
Reactions to Manicaland’s resolutions have been mixed. Within Zanu PF, the declaration has been welcomed by staunch Mnangagwa loyalists, who view it as a show of strength ahead of the October conference. However, critics argue that the endorsement ignores constitutional realities and risks entrenching authoritarianism.
Opposition groups, particularly the Citizens movement, have already condemned the push to extend Mnangagwa’s rule, accusing Zanu PF of seeking to undermine democratic principles for self-preservation. Independent commentators also warn that attempts to tamper with term limits could reignite tensions similar to those that marked the final years of Robert Mugabe’s rule, when succession battles paralysed governance and triggered widespread public discontent.
For ordinary Zimbabweans, however, the developments in Manicaland are likely to be met with scepticism. With the economy still struggling under high inflation, unemployment, and currency instability, many citizens remain more concerned about day-to-day survival than the ruling party’s succession wars. Whether Mnangagwa stays beyond 2030 or not, critics argue, will matter little unless the government delivers tangible improvements in livelihoods.
As the countdown to the National People’s Conference begins, all eyes will be on how other provinces respond to Manicaland’s resolutions. If similar endorsements emerge from across the country, Mnangagwa’s loyalists could build momentum for a constitutional amendment drive. If not, the province’s stance may simply expose the fault lines that continue to haunt Zanu PF’s unity.
What is certain is that Manicaland’s bold push has once again thrust Zimbabwe’s succession politics into the spotlight, reigniting debates about democracy, leadership renewal, and the future of Vision 2030.
Source – zimeye
