A POLITICAL SAGA IN ZIMBABWE

In December 2018, at Mzingwane High School in Esigodini, Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa stood before 5,000 delegates at the Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference. This historic event was just 40 kilometers from Bulawayo. Mnangagwa’s message was clear: he wanted to strengthen the party after the coup a year earlier and focus on the 2023 elections.

Mnangagwa had been in office for only three months and 18 days, since August 26, 2018. But his political ambitions were already focused on the future. A key part of his time in office was an agreement with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. This agreement said Mnangagwa would only serve one term before passing the leadership to Chiwenga. This agreement was made during the November 2017 coup, which ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule. Chiwenga was the mastermind of the coup, and Mnangagwa played a crucial role as the civilian leader.However, Mnangagwa soon moved away from this agreement. After gaining power, he began to remove his former allies to make way for a second term. There are now even whispers about a third term. Mnangagwa’s recent election victory was highly contested, with many claims of fraud.

Now, Mnangagwa’s team is working hard to weaken the main opposition, the CCC, in parliament. His goal is to gain a two-thirds majority, which would allow him to change the constitution. This could clear the way for him to serve a third term after 2028.Mnangagwa is officially 81 years old, but some believe he is actually 85. If his plans succeed, he could remain in power until 2033, finishing his term at the age of 91, or even 96, according to some speculations.All of this is happening while Zimbabwe is facing a severe socio-economic crisis. This crisis has been building for 43 years under Zanu PF’s rule, marked by poor governance and policy mistakes. Mnangagwa’s ambitions cast a long shadow over Zimbabwe’s political scene, which has seen many changes but where power remains with the same party.

The conference at Esigodini was not just a meeting. It was a reflection of Mnangagwa’s ambitions and Zimbabwe’s uncertain political future. Each move Mnangagwa makes not only extends his time in power but also shapes the future of Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa’s actions are not just about staying in power longer. They are shaping the story of a nation whose political situation is always changing. The memories of the past coup are still present, the political maneuvers continue, and Mnangagwa’s ambitions reach further into the future. As Zimbabwe faces its political challenges, Mnangagwa’s quest for power continues to influence the country’s direction.