By Agencies
CALLS within Zanu PF structures to secure President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s third term in office are reportedly gathering steam in a new twist analysts believe will trigger new developments on the political arena.
Mnangagwa (81) is currently serving his second term, and constitutionally his last in office, having been first elected in 2018.
The Zimbabwean constitution only allows a President to serve a maximum of two terms.
However, there is a possibility that this can be changed through a constitutional amendment which would require a two-thirds majority in both the House of Assembly and Senate.
Zanu-PF currently holds a majority in the national assembly only.
A bold slogan: “Mnangagwa will be there in 2030,” has since emerged as the alleged campaign to ostensibly promote Mnangagwa’s continued leadership gains momentum.
The slogan, political observers note, suggests a concerted effort to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms.
A video of a Zanu PF Masvingo provincial meeting held over the weekend showing some party leadership doing the slogan has since gone viral on the internet.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa confirmed that the party held its meeting over the weekend, but refused to comment on the viral video.
“I confirm we held a meeting over the weekend, I cannot comment on what was discussed,” said Mavhenyengwa.
Zanu PF information director Farai Marapira downplayed the allegations that his principal was seeking a third term by amending the Constitution.
“President Mnangagwa was recently given a fresh mandate to lead the people of Zimbabwe and is focusing on that. Anything more than that, [is] a lie,” he said.
Mnangagwa has, however, been accused of strategically using the recalls of opposition legislators as a ruse to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament and potentially extend his presidential term.
After decimating potential rivals in the ruling party and putting his close allies in strategic government positions, Mnangagwa’s biggest hurdle for a potential presidential term extension was in Parliament where the ruling party needed two thirds majority to amend the Constitution, political observers posited.
