President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s latest power move has thrown Zimbabwe into political uncertainty once again. Over the weekend, Mnangagwa hosted a private meeting at his farm with legislators from both Zanu PF and the opposition CCC. His goal was clear. He wants their backing to stay in office until 2030 without going through the ballot box. This plan would extend his term by two years beyond the 2028 constitutional limit without holding an election. It is a direct threat to the rule of law and a dangerous test of Zimbabwe’s fragile democracy.
While Mnangagwa has publicly denied any ambitions to cling to power, his actions say otherwise. He likes to call himself a constitutionalist, a man of the law, but the irony is not lost on the people of Zimbabwe. He rose to power not through elections but through a military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe. Now he is using the same authoritarian playbook to hold onto power even longer. Behind the scenes, his closest allies are actively working on this unconstitutional 2030 plan at his request.
At first, Mnangagwa and his inner circle explored the idea of running again in 2028 for a third term. But the political landscape has changed. Winning another election would be a steep uphill battle. The economy is in freefall. Public trust is at an all-time low. Even among Zanu PF supporters, there is growing fatigue with his leadership. Faced with these challenges, they have shifted tactics. Instead of going to the people, they want to bypass them entirely. The new strategy is to simply extend his term by two years, sidestepping elections and democracy altogether.
But the constitution is clear. Parliament has no power to extend the president’s term. Legal experts have slammed the plan as unconstitutional and illegal. If Mnangagwa moves forward, it would be a flagrant violation of the law. It would set a dangerous precedent and signal the total collapse of constitutional order in Zimbabwe. For a man who claims to respect the law, this plan reveals his utter disregard for it.
What makes this situation even more complex is the resistance from within Zanu PF itself. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the very man who helped bring Mnangagwa to power, is reportedly against the plan. Backed by the military, Chiwenga remains a powerful figure in the ruling party. His opposition signals a deepening rift at the heart of Zanu PF. Without full support from his own party, Mnangagwa’s path to 2030 becomes even more treacherous.
It is not just about legal barriers or political opposition. It is about legitimacy. A leader who fears elections has already lost the moral right to govern. Mnangagwa’s push to delay elections and extend his rule is a betrayal of the people’s trust. It shows a deep fear of facing voters and an obsession with power at all costs.
This backdoor attempt to cling to power must be exposed for what it is. It is a constitutional crisis manufactured by a leader unwilling to let go. Zimbabweans have suffered long enough under broken promises and stolen futures. They deserve better than a president who tries to stay in office by rewriting the rules for his own benefit.
As the battle for 2030 unfolds, one truth remains. The constitution cannot be rewritten on a whim. It is the people of Zimbabwe, not a group of politicians at a farm meeting, who must decide who leads the nation. And if Mnangagwa tries to stay without their consent, he will not only lose what little credibility he has left but risk plunging the country into deeper chaos.
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