THE ruling Zanu PF apparatchiks yesterday fell over each other competing to flatter President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the party intensified its campaign for the extension of his tenure during his 82nd birthday celebrations which were dubbed The Munhumutapa Day.
The party attempted to draw comparisons between Mnangagwa’s rule and the ancient Munhumutapa Empire, a once-powerful kingdom that controlled large swathes of southern Africa.
Munhumutapa was the title given to the ruler of the Mutapa Empire, a powerful pre-colonial State that flourished in southern Africa, primarily in what is now Zimbabwe. The term “Munhumutapa” is Shona, meaning “Lord of the Conquered Lands”.
The Mutapa Empire reached its peak in the 16th century, known for its wealth, particularly in gold and ivory, which attracted Portuguese traders. The empire's capital, Great Zimbabwe, was a massive stone city that remains one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Africa.
Munhumutapa was not only a political leader but also a spiritual figure, believed to have divine powers. The position was hereditary, passed down in the royal family.
The empire’s decline began in the 17th century due to internal conflicts, Portuguese interference and the rise of rival kingdoms.
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The ruling party yesterday hosted a lavish birthday party which was attended by an estimated 30 000 party supporters at the Great Zimbabwe ruins.
Party functionaries fell over each other bootlicking Mnangagwa while “strategically” pleading with him to extend his tenure.
Zanu PF youth secretary Tinoda Machakaire referred to Mnangagwa as King Munhumutapa.
“President Mnangagwa you are the Munhumutapa, I want to give you a truck as my birthday present,” he said.
Party national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri pleaded with the spirit of Munhumutapa to guide Mnangagwa beyond his constitutionally-mandated two terms.
“We are here at your shrine (Munhumutapa), we say please guide your son so that he fulfils his vision up until 2030,” Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
Not to be outdone was Vice-President Kembo Mohadi who condemned anyone opposed to Mnangagwa’s term extension as he chanted the infamous 2030 slogan.
Mohadi has in the past publicly clashed with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga over the push for Mnangagwa to extend his term beyond the constitutionally-mandated two terms.
The biggest hint to amend the Constitution for Mnangagwa’s third-term bid came from Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa who said the octogenarian should listen to the “voice of people”.
“As Masvingo province, we are saying of your Excellency you should continue to rule until 2030. You said the voice of people is the voice of God, so the people of Masvingo have spoken and you should listen to them.
“These are the people who were consulted during the constitution-making process, so there is nothing that can block you from getting another term,” he said.
Zanu PF national secretary for security Lovemore Matuke on Saturday told the party’s Midlands provincial co-ordinating committee meeting that Zimbabwe’s Constitution was “not cast in stone.”
Zanu PF youth national deputy commissar Taurai Kandishaya took bootlicking to another level by attending the event in school uniform and making the bizarre statement that even animals were happy with Mnangagwa’s rule.
“When you took over in 2017, there were 88 000 elephants and now in 2024 there will be 101 000. There is an increase in the elephant population and this shows that even animals are happy with your rule,” he said.
There is a push within Zanu PF to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond the constitutionally-mandated two terms that end in 2028 so that he completes “his vision”.
Mnangagwa has thrice said he is a constitutionalist and will not tamper with the supreme law to continue in office. Despite Mnangagwa’s rebuttal of the third-term bid, movers of the unlawful proposition, coalesced around the ED2030 slogan, have increased the noise.