FEARS are growing in opposition circles in Zimbabwe that the ruling Zanu-PF party is making a new grab for power as it presses ahead with constitutional amendments aimed at giving parliament – rather than voters – the right to elect the president and to extend his term from five to seven years.
“This is a coup, a slow coup that is unfolding in Zimbabwe,” veteran opposition politician and former finance minister Tendai Biti told the BBC.
But Zanu-PF in power since independence in 1980 has vehemently defended the proposed changes.
“There’s nothing that stops us to change, to go to another system that’s less costly, less controversial,” party official Patrick Chinamasa said.
The conflicting views highlight the deep polarisation that draft legislation – aimed at changing the constitution – has caused, pitting Zanu-PF and opposition supporters against each other.
This became clear during public hearings that parliament held recently to give people a chance to express their views on the proposed shake-up that will lead to: “I support the bill in its entirety,” a woman said, at a public hearing in a sports arena in the capital, Harare, last week.
Thousands filled the venue, with speaker after speaker taking the microphone to echo calls for Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond 2028.
Mnangagwa took power in 2017 after ousting long-time ruler Robert Mugabe with the backing of the military – and went on to win disputed elections in 2018 and 2023.
“Term limits must be extended from five to seven years and the MPs that we vote in, must be allowed to elect the president,” a man said at the public hearing.
When the microphone was moved to the area where leading critics of the bill were sitting, there were scenes reminiscent of the violence and intimidation that has often marred Zimbabwean politics, with pushing, shoving and fighting – along with the snatching of mobile phones and journalists being ordered to delete videos of the chaos.
Leading opposition member and lawyer Fadzayi Mahere told the BBC that Zanu-PF supporters had caused the “commotion” in order to prevent critics from registering their disagreement with the bill.
Chinamasa denied that the ruling party backers were behind the chaos.
“What reason what do we have as Zanu-PF to be violent when the masses are behind us? The opposition does not accept that their view is failing to prevail,” he told the BBC.