In November 2017, Emmerson Mnangagwa rose to power after ousting Robert Mugabe through a military coup. Many Zimbabweans believed it was the dawn of a new era. They hoped Mnangagwa would be different. But hope quickly turned into disappointment. Instead of bringing change, he copied Mugabe’s worst habits. Some even say he has become worse. Now, in a shocking twist, Mnangagwa is preparing another coup. This time, not against a leader, but against the very foundation of our democracy — the constitution.
Leaked documents show that Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has submitted a shocking proposal to the cabinet called Constitutional Amendment Number Three. The aim is simple but dangerous. Extend Mnangagwa’s rule by two or even three more years. Legal experts and constitutional lawyers have sounded the alarm. They say this is illegal. They are calling it a constitutional coup.
This plot did not start yesterday. It was first mentioned after the ZANU PF conference in Bulawayo last year. At that meeting, party members shamelessly said Mnangagwa could continue in power if he wanted. Bikita South MP Energy Mutodi was supposed to introduce this dangerous idea in Parliament. The initial plan was to give Mnangagwa a third term. But that plan hit a wall. It required two national referenda, and the political cost was too high. So it was dropped.
Now the focus has shifted to something sneakier. The new plan is to extend Parliament’s term and delay elections. That way, Mnangagwa stays in power without even touching the term limit clause. But this too is a violation. The constitution is clear. Parliament cannot just extend its own life. Elections cannot be postponed for political convenience.
Legal scholars argue that any such move must go through a referendum. Even then, the sitting president cannot benefit from the change. To allow the president to benefit, they would need a second referendum to remove that very clause. The constitution’s authors made it hard for a reason. They wanted to stop future leaders from doing what Mugabe did. They built strong walls around democracy. Now Mnangagwa wants to tear them down.
Some argue that with two referenda the president can benefit. Others say he never can. But both sides agree on one thing. The constitution was written to make it hard for anyone to change the rules for selfish reasons. Tampering with term limits is not just an amendment. It is a complete betrayal of the people’s will.
Mnangagwa is using Ziyambi as the frontman. Ziyambi, as leader of government business in Parliament, is pushing the proposal hard. But this does not make it right. A coup against the constitution is still a coup. It is a direct attack on the legal and moral pillars that hold the country together.
When leaders begin to break the rules, they stop serving the people. They start protecting only their own power. They turn the government into a personal tool. They silence the opposition. They weaken institutions. And they destroy the people’s voice.
In Zimbabwe, we have seen power abused for too long. Mnangagwa’s latest plan is not just a violation of the law. It is a threat to the soul of the nation. If the constitution can be changed without the people, then elections are useless. Democracy dies. The future becomes darker.
Mnangagwa says he needs more time for peace and development. But this is a lie. Real peace comes from respecting the law. Development comes from honest leadership. Staying in power through manipulation is not leadership. It is fear disguised as strength. Zimbabwe deserves better. And we must speak out before it is too late.
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