Zanu PF says it is confident that its resolution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office by two years will sail through Parliament, citing what it describes as broad consensus and the achievements of the Second Republic.
Speaking in Harare on Thursday, party spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said Resolution Number One, adopted at the recent Zanu PF Annual People’s Conference, has been tabled before Parliament as a Constitutional Amendment Bill.
“We expect the Bill to pass. There is consensus in Parliament, and we are confident Resolution Number One will sail through,” Mutsvangwa said.
He argued that Mnangagwa’s performance in office justifies the proposed extension.
“We are happy with what the President has done. He is scoring beyond 100%, and we have never seen that before. The general populace is satisfied with the work of the Second Republic,” he said.
Mutsvangwa also pointed to economic reforms, including the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, as evidence of progress.
“We have strengthened our currency. We successfully introduced a national currency, the ZiG, and Zimbabweans are increasingly embracing it. We are transitioning from reliance on foreign currencies,” he said.
He described Zanu PF as “the most structured and organised party on the African continent” and said it would not be distracted by critics.
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“When the enemy makes noise about what we are doing, we take comfort. It shows we are making an impact,” Mutsvangwa said.
He also highlighted Mnangagwa’s engagement on the global stage, including recent international media interviews, saying the President had firmly defended Zimbabwe’s interests.
“We are open to countries like the United States coming to do business in Zimbabwe. We are not afraid of engagement, and we are not afraid of criticism,” he said.
Turning to the late Zanu PF central committee member and liberation war veteran Blessed Geza, Mutsvangwa paid an emotional tribute to his contribution to both the liberation struggle and the party.
Geza, who recently died after a period of illness, was described as one of the early fighters during the liberation war and a committed cadre who dedicated his own resources to mentoring younger members.
“He was one of the early fighters during the Chimurenga and later became my lecturer at the Chitepo School of Ideology. I have known him from the early years of the struggle. He played a key role in shaping many of us politically,” Mutsvangwa said.
He added that Geza personally supported party programmes and internal reform efforts.
“He even used his own resources generously to defend the party at critical moments. He helped mobilise us during the fight against the G40 faction. He was a principled cadre who believed in the party and the revolution,” Mutsvangwa said.
Mutsvangwa said Geza’s later illness left him vulnerable to manipulation by detractors.
“He became ill and vulnerable, and some detractors took advantage of that to attribute outrageous statements to him. That is unfortunate because he was a loyal son of the revolution,” he said.
Expressing personal regret, Mutsvangwa said he had shared a close bond with Geza.
“I had an emotional attachment to him. I was very close to his family. It is unfortunate that I could not attend his burial due to personal reasons, because I was supposed to be there,” he said.
“He was a hero in his own right. We have no shortage of heroes in our camp, but Geza’s contribution was significant. His passing is a loss to the party and the nation,” Mutsvangwa added, extending condolences to the Geza family.
He reiterated that, in his view, Mnangagwa remains best placed to lead the country beyond 2028.
“With what the President has done, we see him fit to continue leading. Why change leadership when the country is on a clear development path?” Mutsvangwa said.
