Tendai Ruben Mbofana
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has developed a predictable rhythm for his addresses during ruling party gatherings.
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Whether he is presiding over the Politburo or the Central Committee, a recurring theme invariably emerges in the form of a stern warning against those he characterizes as ‘malcontents pursuing self-serving agendas’.
This rhetoric is designed to paint any form of dissent as inherently unpatriotic or driven by a desire for personal gain at the expense of national stability.
In the official narrative, these so-called malcontents comprise two main groups.
On one hand, there are the internal voices within ZANU-PF who are quietly or overtly resisting the current push to extend the president’s stay in power.
On the other hand, there are those outside the party—journalists, activists, and legal experts—who dare to hold the government to account by demanding adherence to the supreme law of the land.
However, when we cast an analytical eye over the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, the definition of who is truly pursuing a self-serving agenda begins to shift dramatically.
This bill seeks to extend the current term of President Mnangagwa, a move that the 2013 Constitution explicitly and unequivocally prohibits.
Under Section 328(7), the law is clear that an amendment to a term-limit provision which extends the length of time that a person may hold or occupy a public office cannot benefit the person who held that office when the amendment was adopted.
Section 328(1) defines such a provision as one that limits the length of time a person may hold office.
It is a safeguard designed to prevent the very consolidation of power we are witnessing today.
When we ask who the real malcontents are, the answer lies not with those defending the law, but with those attempting to subvert it for the benefit of a single individual and his circle of loyalists.
The audacity of this legislative manoeuvre is breathtaking.
The push for these amendments shows a blatant disregard for the democratic will of the people and the foundational principles of constitutionalism.
Those spearheading this campaign have even gone as far as to reject the necessity of a national referendum, despite the fact that Section 328(9) of the Constitution demands one whenever Section 328 itself is being altered.
By attempting to bypass the voters, the architects of this bill are effectively attempting to silence the sovereign voice of the Zimbabwean people.
This is being done by individuals who stood before the nation and swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, yet today they seek to brazenly and unashamedly mutilate it.
For what purpose is this legal surgery being performed?
It is not for the benefit of the suffering masses in the townships or the struggling farmers in the rural areas.
It is purely for the benefit of a few individuals in power who view the state as their private estate.
This is the ultimate example of a self-serving agenda.
When a small group of elites decides that the laws governing millions should be rewritten simply to ensure they remain in high office, they forfeit the right to label others as malcontents.
They are the ones who are dissatisfied with the democratic constraints of our republic.
They are the ones who are pursuing a narrow, personal objective that clashes with the national interest.
As Zimbabweans, we must awaken to the reality that these political shenanigans have absolutely nothing to do with us or our welfare.
The propaganda machine often argues that the president needs more time to complete his development programs.
We are told that projects like the rehabilitation of roads, the drilling of boreholes, and the construction of dams will somehow grind to a halt if there is a change in leadership.
This is a patronizing and dangerous myth.
Any genuine development program can be implemented and completed by any capable leader who is committed to the public good.
It really does not matter who occupies State House as long as the institutions of the state are functioning effectively.
To suggest that progress is tied to the survival of one man is a grave indictment of the country itself.
Does anyone seriously believe that engineers will forget how to build dams or that technicians will lose the ability to drill boreholes simply because a new president takes office in 2028?
If the state is so fragile that its developmental trajectory depends entirely on a single individual, then we would have to admit that Zimbabwe is a failed state.
A functional, modern republic relies on strong institutions and the rule of law, not on the supposed indispensability of a “Strongman.”
The road networks being rehabilitated and the infrastructure projects being funded by the taxpayer’s money belong to the people of Zimbabwe, not to the presidency.
From a purely political perspective, the push to delay the elections until 2030 is even more baffling.
In the current political environment, the opposition appears fragmented and significantly weakened.
There was almost no scenario in which the ruling ZANU-PF party was going to lose a general election in 2028.
With only two years left in the current cycle, the ruling party was more than assured of a landslide victory.
Ironically, these proposed constitutional amendments are the biggest impediment to that guaranteed success.
By moving the goalposts and delaying the vote to 2030, the proponents of this bill are actually giving the opposition a gift of time.
They are providing a period for a dormant or divided opposition to regroup, reinvigorate, and mount a serious challenge that could pose a real threat to ZANU-PF’s political dominance by the end of the decade.
The most logical move for the ruling party would have been to proceed with the 2028 elections as scheduled.
A massive electoral victory would have provided a fresh mandate and a smooth transition to a new ZANU-PF leader who could have easily continued the national development agenda.
Dams would still be built, the economy would still grow, and infrastructure would still be modernized.
There is no rational reason why a successor could not build upon the foundation laid by their predecessor.
In fact, under a new leader who is not presiding over a corruption-riddled government of Zvigananda—the predatory elites who are bleeding the country dry by looting national resources—development would likely accelerate.
The current atmosphere of patronage and systemic looting has left our public hospitals and schools in a deplorable state.
These institutions lack the most basic equipment and supplies, leading to the needless deaths of thousands of our citizens and the destruction of our children’s futures before they even begin.
If the billions lost to corruption were instead channeled into the public sector, our civil servants would finally earn a living wage.
They would not be reduced to the indignity of begging the authorities for salaries just to keep their heads above water.
We are told that Zimbabwe has the fastest-growing economy in the region, yet this growth is invisible to the ordinary person.
True development should reflect in the significant improvement of the livelihoods of citizens, not just in the bank accounts of the politically connected.
If we transition to a leadership that prioritizes accountability over term extensions, we would see a Zimbabwe where people no longer need to sing and dance for handouts.
We would see a nation where merit, transparency, and the rule of law are the guiding lights.
Therefore, having elections in 2028 is not only good for the ordinary Zimbabwean who yearns for better services and dignity, but it is also good for ZANU-PF itself if it wishes to remain a viable political force.
Yet, those pushing for Amendment No. 3 are willing to sacrifice the stability of the country and the long-term health of their own party for the sake of one man’s hold on power.
These are the real malcontents.
They are the ones who are dissatisfied with the constitutional order that the people of Zimbabwe voted for in 2013.
They are the ones who are pursuing a self-serving agenda that places personal ambition above the law, above development, and above the people.
It is time for every Zimbabwean to recognize that the threat to our democracy does not come from those who ask for accountability; it comes from those who seek to make themselves above the law.
They are the ones who need to be stopped before they succeed in turning our constitution into a mere suggestion.
- Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. To directly receive his articles please join his WhatsApp Channel on: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaqprWCIyPtRnKpkHe08