By Political Reporter—President Emmerson Mnangagwa appears to have shelved his ambitious 2030 Agenda, declaring he will not seek an extension of his term beyond 2028 amid intensifying pressure and veiled coup threats from his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
The announcement of Mnangagwa’s apparent change of plans was delivered by Zanu PF’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa, on Saturday afternoon.
“His Excellency said he had a hand in crafting the current Constitution … I met him three times, and he said he has no wish to extend his mandate beyond 2028,” Chinamasa relayed, signalling a shift that surprised some of Mnangagwa’s allies who had championed his 2030 ambitions.
Friday, all Zanu PF provinces endorsed Mnangagwa’s 2030 Agenda at the party’s 21st National People’s Conference in Bulawayo, a development that heightened tensions in the power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.
By backing an extended rule, provincial leaders, including those from Harare and the Midlands, openly supported potential constitutional amendments to grant Mnangagwa either a third term or an indefinite tenure.
Party unity chants for “2030 for Mnangagwa” echoed across Mashonaland and Matabeleland, sidelining succession discussions that insiders expected to dominate the conference.
Leading the charge for Mnangagwa was Harare Province Chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa, who proclaimed loyalty to the president while calling for a constitutional pathway to extend his leadership.
This unanimous provincial endorsement effectively curtailed discussions around succession—a topic growing more politically sensitive as Mnangagwa’s relationship with Chiwenga becomes strained.
While Mnangagwa spoke at the conference about unity and discipline, his words reflected underlying concerns about factionalism within Zanu PF ranks, hinting at anxiety over Chiwenga’s ambitions.
“Zanu PF is a moving train, always ready to welcome new members,” Mnangagwa declared. “However, party systems must be tightened against infiltration by divisive elements and malcontents who have no regard for the political order that is guaranteed by the supreme Party Constitution.”
Although Mnangagwa avoided direct mention of the “2030 Agenda,” his remarks emphasized loyalty to party principles, citing Zanu PF’s constitution to underscore the importance of allegiance in the face of potential threats.
Meanwhile, Chiwenga’s allies, viewing Mnangagwa’s 2030 push as an indefinite delay to Chiwenga’s own political rise, have grown increasingly frustrated. Some party insiders report mounting whispers of potential action from Chiwenga’s camp.
Having played a pivotal role in ousting former President Robert Mugabe in 2017, Chiwenga is rumoured to be considering another intervention if Mnangagwa’s ambitions further sideline him, potentially mirroring the tactics used to end Mugabe’s rule.
Political analysts argue that the Bulawayo conference served as a “rubber-stamp” event for Mnangagwa’s 2030 Agenda, providing no real forum for open debate on succession. Mnangagwa’s repeated insistence on “discipline” has been interpreted as a tactical reminder of loyalty amidst rising internal dissent.
By rallying support behind the 2030 goal, Mnangagwa may be signalling intentions to pursue constitutional amendments enabling his indefinite rule—a move likely to inflame tensions with Chiwenga’s camp.
During his address, Mnangagwa also praised Zanu PF’s recent election victories and highlighted the party’s new membership database—a tool for strengthening internal control and responsive planning.
Yet he criticized some districts for “chaotic records,” hinting at factional manipulation of party data for political gain.
This critique, subtle yet pointed, underscores Mnangagwa’s awareness of power struggles festering within Zanu PF.
The conflict between Mnangagwa’s 2030 ambitions and Chiwenga’s camp now looms over Zimbabwe’s political future.
The question remains whether Chiwenga, who has so far maintained a strategic silence, will eventually wield his military influence to counter Mnangagwa’s extended tenure plans.