ZIMBABWE: GEN Z SAYS ‘NO’ TO 3RD MNANGAGWA TERM!

On 20 January, a group of Zimbabweans protested against plans by the ruling ZANU-PF party to scrap presidential term limits to allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rule beyond his second term, which is set to expire in 2028. This video, posted by Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono, shows them chanting while marching through a suburb of the capital, Harare.

Their main rally cry is '2030 taramba,' which in the local Shona language means, 'We reject the 2030 project.' Project 2030 is an effort by the ruling party to mobilise citizens to support its planned amendment to the country's 2013 constitution, which restricts presidents to two five-year terms in office max.

At its annual congress in October 2024, ZANU-PF passed a resolution backing reforms that would enable Mnangagwa to stay in office until at least 2030. The party says the president, who has been in power since 2017, needs more time to complete projects his administration is implementing.

On 16 January, the country's justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, revealed that his ministry is ready to start amending the constitution as soon as parliamentarians table the bill before the National Assembly.

Mnangagwa has stated on numerous occasions that he has no plans to rule beyond his second and final term. However, his opponents insist that the president is behind the calls for a third bid, and that his professed rejection of the idea is merely an attempt to hoodwink the public.

ZANU-PF currently enjoys a two-thirds parliamentary majority, which will make it easy to pass the bill through the House. However, the real hurdle for the ruling party will be selling the idea to citizens, who will eventually have to vote on it in a national referendum.

Video Credit: Hopewell Chin'ono

Sources:

https://www.newzimbabwe.com/stop-this-nonsense-chamisa-blasts-zanu-pfs-push-for-mnangagwas-third-term/

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwes-zanu-pf-wants-extend-presidents-term-by-two-years-2025-01-14/

https://www.zimlive.com/zanu-pf-passes-resolution-to-allow-mnangagwa-to-extend-term-up-to-2030/

https://theafrican.co.za/politics/double-speak-in-third-term-bid-for-emmerson-mnangagwa-d18be85f-2e5e-470a-8a3c-64b8be70338e/

https://www.voanews.com/a/zimbabwe-s-leader-rules-out-extending-presidency-terms/7735025.html