News that Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF party wants to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office to 2030 has drawn mixed reactions from Zimbabweans living in South Africa. Many say the move reflects the deepening political stagnation that forced them to leave home in the first place, while others argue that Mnangagwa has performed better than his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, and deserves more time to continue the country’s recovery.
IOL reported on Tuesday that Zanu PF had announced plans to begin the process of extending Mnangagwa’s term of office by two years — a move that, if successful, would keep him in power until 2030. The proposal was formally endorsed at the party’s annual national people’s conference in the eastern city of Mutare over the weekend, where delegates instructed government structures to start drafting legislation to amend the constitution.
Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena, warned that the move would spell disaster for the landlocked nation.
“As the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa we condemn the action taken by Zanu PF to propose postponing elections to 2030. We want to participate in the elections in 2028. We want the parliament in Zimbabwe to give way for the diaspora vote,” Mabhena told IOL.
“All of us, given what is obtaining in South Africa, with Operation Dudula and other anti-migrant organisations, we believe that we can only stabilise our economy when we have resolved the political question. The political question can only be resolved through an election. If elections are postponed, we do not see any resolution of the political question, which would lead to rebuilding of the Zimbabwean economy so that we who are in South Africa can return home.”
On the other hand, prominent businessman, lawyer, and socialite Moreboys Munetsi said his main concern was helping the large number of Zimbabweans in South Africa who continue to face challenges around documentation, healthcare, and employment.
Prominent businessman, lawyer, and socialite Moreboys Munetsi said his main concern was helping the large number of Zimbabweans in South Africa
“People who are in the diaspora have been left out of economic opportunities in Zimbabwe’s sectors like mining and agriculture. The environment here in South Africa has become very hostile, especially to the Zimbabwe community — they really want to go back home. What makes Zimbabweans continue to stay in South Africa is that they have no idea how to survive once they get home,” Munetsi told IOL.
“Perhaps the government of Zimbabwe could avail some funding to help its people, particularly those who are in South Africa. You can see foreigners have been blocked from accessing hospitals and certain companies. So my observation is that Zimbabweans in South Africa desire to return home, but they do not know how to survive once they are in Zimbabwe.”
On behalf of the Zimbabwe Immigration Federation and the Zimbabwe Democratic Congress, Luke Mufaro Dzviti said he was deeply disappointed by Zanu PF’s resolution.
“The recent move by Zanu PF seeking to extend President Mnangagwa’s term to the year 2030 is very disappointing, unconstitutional and proof that Zanu PF madhalas (old men) want to capture Zimbabwe more than what the Guptas and Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala did in South Africa,” said Dzviti.
“Extending Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure to 2030 is a catastrophe of monumental proportions to Zimbabwe — to Zimbabweans who are sick and tired of Zanu PF’s bad governance, corruption and tyranny. This has come at a time when my party was finishing structures, a manifesto and other paperwork while fielding members of parliament in all 210 constituencies to try and make Zimbabwe great again sooner and not in the future of 2030.”
Not all Zimbabweans share this view. Cross-border truck driver Ishmael Gwatidzo, a Zanu PF supporter, welcomed the proposed extension.
“I think we have not seen an influx of Zimbabweans fleeing hardship ever since President Mnangagwa took office. We must not be quick to forget. The problem we are faced with now is how to get Zimbabweans who are in South Africa back home, but a few years back, there was pressure at the border with Zimbabweans fleeing,” Gwatidzo said.
“What you get now is Zimbabweans travelling to other countries like Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique to buy goods and return home. Even our road infrastructure has improved. I think Zanu PF was right — President Mnangagwa has unfinished business.”
Former Zimbabwean cabinet minister and former national political commissar of Zanu- PF, Saviour “Tyson” Kasukuwere spoke to IOL
On Wednesday, IOL also reported that former Zanu PF heavyweight and cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere rubbished the party’s plan to extend Mnangagwa’s term, warning that it would end badly for both the president and the country.
Speaking to IOL, Kasukuwere said: “He (Mnangagwa) is dreaming, and he has set himself up for a gigantic failure. Greediness knows no boundaries, and this will lead to a huge disaster for the country.”
Kasukuwere, once a senior figure in the Zanu PF government led by Robert Mugabe before going into exile during the 2017 military intervention, has become one of the most prominent former insiders to publicly condemn the move to extend Mnangagwa’s rule.
The post We want to come home: Zimbabweans in South Africa react to President Mnangagwa’s term extension first appeared on The Zimbabwe Mail.