By Wisdom Mumera
In July 2019, President Mnangagwa, buoyed by his triumph over Mugabe in 2017 and Chamisa in the 2018 elections, proclaimed with remarkable confidence, “2030 ndinenge ndichipo.”
To the unassuming ear, this appeared an exuberant, spontaneous remark rather than a deliberate declaration of intent.
Yet, the moment has evolved into the inaugural public revelation of a disconcerting strategy aimed at entrenching Mnangagwa’s hold while conspicuously undermining the aspirations of his bristling Vice President, Chiwenga.
Cabinet Support
On Tuesday Cabinet gave approval to a draft Bill proposing constitutional amendments that will extend the presidential terms from five years to seven.
Should this amendment pass, President Mnangagwa will remain in power until 2030, deferring his expected departure in 2028.
Additional provisions within the proposed Bill suggest that the president be elected by Parliament as opposed to a direct popular vote.
However, this approach is not entirely unprecedented, countries like South Africa employ a somewhat analogous mechanism.
In South Africa, citizens vote for political parties which, in turn, allocate 400 seats in the National Assembly.
The president is then chosen by an assembly of members, requiring merely a simple majority of 201 votes.
Given ZANU PF’s firm grip on the legislature, the party welcomes such a scenario where its dominance remains unchallenged.
Snaring A Docile Opposition
Moving forward, this Bill will be published in the Government Gazette first.
It will then advance to Parliament under the leadership of Speaker Jacob Mudenda, who also serves as ZANU PF’s Secretary General.
This anticipated direction is unlikely to face substantive resistance, save for some meager skirmishes on social media.
The opposition, as it presently exists, constitutes a lackluster coalition of opportunists and political survivalists lacking the fortitude to mount any effective resistance.
Their failure to curtail Tshabangu has rendered them politically moribund, reduced to repeated rhetoric bereft of actionable resolve.
Moreover, the Mnangagwa administration inherently possesses leverage over them.
This follows the controversial 2023 loan allocations.
Then, the MPs received housing loans of US$40,000 while Ministers were granted US$500,000.
These figures complemented existing vehicle loans, all burdens they are obliged to repay.
Setting An Example And A Warning!
One recent Parliamentary maneuver may have served as a cautionary signal to any impassioned ideologues contemplating defiance against the 2030 agenda.
In January, Parliament initiated legal proceedings against former Higher and Tertiary Education Minister and MP, Olivia Muchena, over an outstanding vehicle loan.
She is purported to owe in excess of US$32,000.
The government has also demonstrated its capacity to tighten control, as evidenced by its 2017 lawsuits against numerous former MPs on similar matters.
Among those targeted were Lucia Matibenga, Reggie Moyo, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, Gorden Moyo, Settlement Chikwinya, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Evelyn Masaiti, Paul Madzore, Solomon Madzore, and Moses Manyengavana.
Although these actions may appear genuine and well-intentioned, they constitute a persistent threat looming over all concerned MPs.
Thus the opposition MPs, in being indebted to these powerful stakeholders, find their agency severely diminished.
This week, rumors have circulated regarding CCC Secretary General Tshabangu spearheading a caucus meeting to deliberate on the 2030 Bill.
Given the context of past events, the underlying intentions are glaringly apparent.
Public Hearings: An Exercise in Futility
With the government asserting that no referendum is necessary for constitutional amendments, public hearings emerge as the sole avenue for citizen engagement.
Yet, the ruling party has exhibited a flagrant disregard for this process.
Previous similar convenings have been marred by rowdy disruptions and tumultuous behavior, resulting in legislative proposals returning to Parliament with little, if any, substantive alterations.
Thus, these Public Hearings serve merely as a perfunctory measure, intended for show rather than genuine efficacy.
If any meaningful challenge to the 2030 agenda is to materialize, it would likely need to arise through the judiciary.
This notion, however, is complicated by the fact that while MPs and Ministers were getting housing loans amounting to $40,000 and $500,000 respectively, judges were also securing $400,000 allocations!
They are equally indebted.
Consequently, the pathway to blocking the amendments is riddled with complexities and shadows and little substantial fortitude to impede progress.
Like many other civic activities before, the current movement against the 2030 agenda by civic players is as effective as Chiwenga’s rumoured opposition to the whole scheme.
Feeble.
