A faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has rejected remarks by Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, saying no individual has the authority to determine the country’s future leadership.
The response, delivered by faction chairperson Ethan Mathibela, comes amid growing tensions within the ruling party over succession and proposed constitutional changes that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s stay in power.
On Wednesday in Harare, Mutsvangwa told party members with leadership ambitions to “wait for 2030”, insisting President Mnangagwa would remain in office until then.
“If you have ambitions as a faction or whoever is trying to take over from him, just wait for 2030. It will come. It will not be removed from the calendar of Zimbabwe. It will still be there, just make sure you keep healthy,” Mutsvangwa said.
He also warned against internal dissent.
“Don’t try to make noises between now and 2030 because the door has been closed,” he said.
The remarks, widely interpreted as directed at factions aligned to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is believed to oppose the proposed constitutional amendments, have intensified debate over succession politics within Zanu PF.
However, Mathibela dismissed the suggestion that any individual or faction could “close the door” on leadership contests.
“As the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, we reject this statement without reservation,” he told CITE.
“Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy. Leadership in this country is not determined by individuals, factions or spokespersons. It is determined by the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We must be very clear: no one has the authority to open or close the door on behalf of the people. That power was fought for during the liberation struggle, and it remains vested in the citizens of this country.”
Mathibela warned that such statements risk undermining democratic principles and the legacy of the liberation struggle.
“When we went to war, we did so to dismantle systems of exclusion and minority control. We did not do so to replace them with internal gatekeeping and political monopolies,” he said.
“Statements of this nature are not only reckless, they are dangerous. They promote a culture where leadership is treated as a private entitlement rather than a public trust.”
The intervention comes amid a charged political environment, as Zanu PF moves forward with constitutional reforms that critics say could entrench executive power.
The ruling party has adopted a resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years, from 2028 to 2030, through the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, which is currently before Parliament.
The proposed changes would also extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and replace direct presidential elections with a vote by a joint sitting of Parliament.
In addition, the amendments would remove the vice president’s automatic right to assume office in the event of a vacancy, a provision previously seen as providing a clear line of succession.
The proposals have prompted growing calls for a national referendum, with critics arguing they would significantly alter Zimbabwe’s democratic framework.
“As war veterans, we will not stand by while those values are eroded,” Mathibela said.
He added that the association’s stance was not about endorsing any individual, but about defending democratic principles.
“It is evident that Cde Constantino Chiwenga commands significant support across different sectors of Zimbabwean society. This is a reality that must be acknowledged, not dismissed,” he said.
“However, our position is not about endorsing individuals. It is about defending a principle: that leadership legitimacy must come from the people, not from declarations made in the corridors of power.”
Mathibela reiterated that Zimbabwe’s future must be determined through democratic processes.
“Zimbabwe must remain open, democratic and guided by the will of its citizens,” he said.
“We therefore reiterate: no door can be closed on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. The people will decide.”
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I hope the idolatry village herdboy Mutsvangwa got it loud and clear……