By Staff Reporter
THE World Council of Churches (WCC) has dismissed Zanu-PF’s plans to prolong President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s stay in office , arguing such a move will be detrimental to Zimbabwe’s stature on the global landscape.
WCC director, Kenneth Mtata, said the move to extend Mnangagwa’s term will have ripple effects on the country’s position in the global community.
“The proposal to extend the presidential term will hurt Zimbabwe at many levels. Here are five main reasons
“First, it will undermine all the hard work of international re-engagement pursued since 2017. It will signal to global partners that Zimbabwe cannot be trusted to honour its own constitutional and democratic commitments.
“Second, it will jeopardise the ongoing debt restructuring efforts. Third, this extension will discourage investment. Recently, Forbes magazine is said to have identified Zimbabwe as one of the most attractive tourist destinations. Investors would be wary of systems that change rules to suit political convenience. Policy inconsistency and instability will scare away the very capital needed for national economic recovery.
“Fourth, the term extension will shatter the fragile social trust that had begun to form after years of political violence. Coercive force and intimidation would likely return to our national life in order to enforce such an unpopular measure. This will reopen old wounds and further divide communities once again.
“Fifth, this decision will remove any chances of the President leaving a positive legacy. He will be classified with all those leaders remembered for clinging to power, rather than those honoured for serving with integrity and stepping aside with dignity,” said Mtata.
