A FACTION of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) is engaging various civic society organisations to mount a challenge against Zanu PF’s plans to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule to 2030, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.
This follows resolutions made at the ruling party’s annual conference last week, where delegates endorsed legal strategies, including constitutional amendments, aimed at securing Mnangagwa’s stay in power beyond 2028.
Although Mnangagwa has publicly declared himself a constitutionalist who will step down at the end of his second term, his loyalists within Zanu PF have continued to push for constitutional changes to keep him in office.
The development has deepened divisions within the party, with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga reportedly opposing the 2030 plan.
Last month, Chiwenga presented a dossier to the Zanu PF politburo alleging large-scale corruption by the party’s benefactors, Kuda Tagwirei and Wicknell Chivayo, and urged Mnangagwa to actagainst them.
However, during last week’s politburo meeting, Zanu PF legal affairs secretary Ziyambi Ziyambi dismissed Chiwenga’s dossier, saying it lacked substance.
At the Mutare conference, party delegates resolved to expedite efforts to extend Mnangagwa’s term, a move widely seen as an attempt to block Chiwenga’s path to the presidency. By law, Mnangagwa’s current term ends in 2028 following his 2023 re-election.
Ethan Mathibela, who leads a ZNLWVA faction, told the Independent that the group was consulting civic organisations to build a united front against the 2030 plan.
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“As the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, we stand firmly on the side of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Our position is clear, the Constitution of Zimbabwe is the supreme law of the land, and any attempt to alterit for personal or partisan benefit must be resisted,” he said.
“We are, therefore, consulting widely with our members, constitutional lawyers, civic organisations, and progressive citizens to build a united front that defends the spirit and letter of our Constitution.”
Mathibela said the liberation struggle was fought for “justice, equality and democracy — not for lifetime presidencies”.
“We will use lawful and peaceful means, including petitions, civic education and policy engagement, to safeguard the Constitution and ensure that leadership transitions occur democratically in 2028 as stipulated,” he stated.
Mathibela questioned Mnangagwa’s sincerity, saying his failure to rein in supporters pushing for term extension undermined his claim to be a constitutionalist.
“Frankly, we do not believe his actionsreflect sincerity. If indeed he were a constitutionalist, he would have publicly and decisively stopped his party’s resolution to extend his term — in defence of the Constitution and the will of the people,” he said.
“Zimbabweans are suffering under the weight of corruption, nepotism and economic collapse.
“Leadership must take responsibility, not seek extensions of power. To be a true constitutionalist is not to say it, but to demonstrate it by upholding the law even when it limits your own authority.”
Mathibela said the campaign to stop the 2030 plan would involve churches and other “progressive” forces.
“We are reaching out to civic society groups, churches, youth movements, and other patriotic formations to form a broad, peaceful, and lawful alliance in defence of the Constitution,” he said.
