- By Political Correspondent
Opposition leader Manyara Muyenziwa has branded the campaign to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule beyond 2028 a “moral and constitutional crisis,” urging Parliament to reject the “ED 2030” movement.
In a petition addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and copied to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Ministry of Justice, the FORUS president accused ruling party factions of attempting to undermine the country’s hard-won Constitution.
“This is not just a legal issue—it is a moral crisis. It is a test of our collective commitment to democracy. The Constitution was designed to prevent life presidencies. To change it for the benefit of one individual is a betrayal of the people,” Muyenziwa wrote.
The 2013 Constitution introduced presidential term limits after decades of Robert Mugabe’s rule.
Under Section 91, a president can only serve two terms while Section 328 prevents an incumbent from benefiting from any amendments to those limits.
Mnangagwa, who became president in 2017 after Mugabe’s removal, was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2023 and his second and final term expires in 2028.
According to Muyenziwa, tampering with these provisions erodes the principle of leadership renewal and sends the wrong message to younger generations.
“What precedent does this set for future leaders? That the Constitution can be rewritten whenever it is politically convenient?” she asked.
The petition accuses ruling party figures of using the controversial Patriotic Act to target activists and diaspora voices who oppose ED 2030 as well as deploying money and patronage to buy loyalty within the party and state institutions.
“Silencing critics and bribing supporters is not democracy—it is coercion,” Muyenziwa wrote.
Reports suggest the campaign is gaining traction in the party with some senior party officials endorsing the idea.
In closing her petition, Muyenziwa urged lawmakers to place principle above political loyalty.
“Parliament must uphold the Constitution, protect citizens from intimidation, and preserve the 2028 elections. This is a moment of moral choice. Will we defend democracy, or will we surrender it to authoritarian ambition?” she wrote.