malvernmugadzikwa
Kuda Bwititi in BULAWAYO
THE ruling ZANU PF is unanimous that President Mnangagwa’s term of office must be extended to 2030 to enable him to fulfil his unprecedented transformative development programmes.
Presenting resolutions at the party’s 21st National People’s Conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds here yesterday, Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the resolution on extension of the President’s term appeared in all thematic committee resolutions and across the country’s ten provinces.
At the conference, delegates overwhelmingly and unanimously endorsed a resolution to extend the President’s term, directing the Government to proceed with the necessary constitutional amendments needed to clear the path for President Mnangagwa to stay on.
“I will read the resolution which all provinces asked and which was also supported by the thematic committees which sat yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) . . . and this is the resolution: That the President and First Secretary of ZANU PF, His Excellency Cde ED Mnangagwa’s term of office, as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and First Secretary of ZANU PF, be extended beyond 2028 to 2030,” said Cde Chinamasa to celebration from delegates.
It was legally possible, he said, to extend the President’s term, as this required two separate constitutional amendments and referendums.
“However, our department was being asked the question: is it legally possible? And the short answer I gave was that yes, it’s legally possible.
“But . . . to achieve it we would need two separate constitutional amendments. One amendment to remove the presidential term that is fixed in the Constitution.
“The next amendment, the constitutional amendment, should be to remove the disability that the Constitution places on His Excellency to serve beyond 2028 . . . and the constitutional Bills must be separate; not in one constitutional Bill.”
According to Cde Chinamasa, the motivation of the delegations for President Mnangagwa to continue to 2030 was understandable, as they wanted him “fulfil his Vision 2030 that has transformed the country” in a short space of time.
“I understand clearly the motive behind this resolution,” he said.
“We have scored great achievements in a short space of time under the leadership of His Excellency. The motivation is that these achievements should continue.”
He, however, said he consulted the President on the issue at least four times and he insisted that he was not interested in extending his term beyond 2028.
“I was granted a meeting in August, where I raised the issue, and to find out what his position is. I was given an answer, but I was not satisfied,” said Cde Chinamasa.
“I asked again for a meeting in mid-September, again to seek an answer.
“I was given the same answer that I was given in August. But just to be sure whether I was in the right direction, I called and asked for another meeting, which His Excellency granted me on Tuesday (last week).
“And this time, I had a witness; I was not alone, fortunately. I was given the same answer that I was given in August, in September and on Tuesday.
“Just before I took the podium, I whispered in the ear of the President: Does what you told me on the three meetings still stand? And he was emphatic it still stands.”
Cde Chinamasa added: “When he told me this, he said, ‘feel free to tell them that you consulted me’, which is what I am conveying to you this afternoon. So, we have our resolution, but I think we must understand coming from here that it will not go anywhere because His Excellency is emphatic that when 2028 comes, he will not serve beyond that date.”
Other resolutions adopted at the conference touched on the need to improve the standards of living of the people of Zimbabwe.
In particular, the party resolved to direct the Government to “take robust measures to strengthen the purchasing power of the Zimbabwe Gold currency and entrench its usage”.
Another resolution adopted was to expedite the allocation of 10-hectare plots per district for the youths.
The party called for the timeous distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers to promote and sustain food sovereignty.
The Government was also directed to engage Britain to fulfil its promise to contribute financially to pay off compensation to white former commercial farmers.
Online Reporter