President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s announcement early this month that he will abide by the constitution and retire when his second and final term ends in 2028 was welcomed by many progressive Zimbabweans, but it appears there are some in the ruling Zanu PF party who still want to push him to hang on to power.
Zimbabwe’s constitution, which was adopted in 2013, says an individual may serve as president for only two terms of five years each.
The term limits were introduced by popular demand because Zimbabweans were largely tired of Robert Mugabe, who had ruled the country since its independence in 1980.
Mugabe, who ruled with an iron fist, did not want to leave office even at a time when it was apparent that he had lost popular support.
In 2008, he refused to step down after losing the elections to then opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and unleashed violence at an industrial scale to force his opponent to withdraw from a run-off poll.
Mugabe was eventually forced out of power through a military coup in 2017. Coups are not desirable in civilised societies and this is why term limits are important to facilitate peaceful transfer of power.
Mnangagwa told a gathering in Mutare that he will retire when his term comes to an end in 2028.
Some say he was forced to make the public statement due to unrelenting pressure from the military, which is said to be opposed to the ED2030 campaign that seemed to gain traction in Zanu PF soon after last year’s disputed elections.
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It is troubling that despite the president’s pronouncement, Zanu PF structures are still talking about Mnangagwa being in power beyond the end of his term.
The ruling party’s Masvingo provincial executive a week ago passed a resolution calling on the president to remain in office until 2030, something that would be unconstitutional.
There was also a march by Zanu PF youths in Mashonaland East, who were pushing the same agenda. The ED2030 campaign seems to be well coordinated and those behind it are known.
It is, therefore, imperative for Mnangagwa to put his house in order by putting a stop to the madness if he is sincere about respecting the constitution.
The president must instil discipline in his party by reining on those that seem to be bent on defying his position on retirement.
Mnangagwa should be concentrating on making sure that he uses the remainder of his term to create a legacy instead of being invested in divisive and ruinous politics.
