Tinotenda Hove – ZANU-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa has urged party members with leadership ambitions to be patient until 2030, as internal tensions continue to simmer within the ruling party.

This comes as the party backs efforts to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office from 2028 to 2030 through the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, which is currently before Parliament.

The Bill seeks to increase presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and proposes a shift from direct presidential elections to a system where the president is chosen by a joint sitting of Parliament.

Reports suggest that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is opposed to the proposed changes, a stance widely interpreted as linked to his own presidential aspirations.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mutsvangwa did not directly mention Chiwenga but appeared to address individuals positioning themselves for leadership within the party.

“If you have ambitions as a faction or whoever is trying to take over from him, just wait for 2030. It will come. It will not be removed from the calendar of Zimbabwe,” said Mutsvangwa.

“It will still be there – just make sure you keep healthy, and if you’re a member of the party, just make sure that you maintain your standing with the membership in good standing so that your candidacy, come 2030, can enjoy the support which it should.”

Mutsvangwa also cautioned against actions he said were fuelling divisions within ZANU-PF ahead of the anticipated end of Mnangagwa’s current term.

ZANU-PF is scheduled to hold its elective congress in 2027, where a successor to Mnangagwa would ordinarily emerge ahead of the 2028 elections. However, both the congress timeline and the election cycle could be significantly altered if the constitutional amendments are passed.

Despite calls from opposition groups and civil society organisations for a national referendum, the ruling party is pushing ahead with plans to pass the Bill through Parliament.

According to reports, a joint sitting of Parliament is set for 18 May. If approved, the Bill could be sent to Mnangagwa for assent and potentially become law as early as 19 May.