THE protagonists for the ED2030 agenda are unrelenting, despite protestations by a wide spectrum of society and pronunciations by President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself that he has no interest in the contentious extension of his term beyond 2028.

It is noticeable that only a few individuals are at the forefront of the push to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure by two years to 2030 despite claims that there is a “concerted push” from the grassroots to force the extension.

There is resistance, however, in hushed tones within the ruling party and a few individuals have been brave enough to come out in the open and oppose the move to make Mnangagwa stay longer than the law allows.

These include the likes of liberation war stalwart Blessed “Bombshell” Geza, who was on Thursday fired from the ruling Zanu PF party for allegedly engaging in activities that sought to subvert the party, “an act tantamount to treason against the State”, according to Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Patrick Chinamasa.

“His blatant disloyalty left the party with no option, but to expel him with immediate effect.”

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman Andreas Mathibela has also been vocal against the extension of Mnangagwa’s tenure.

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Catholic bishops have joined in resisting the ED2030 push.

They have raised several valid points, crushing the move to force Mnangagwa to hang until 2030.

Even the generality of Zimbabweans does not want such a scenario.

They have had enough of the man’s failure to turn around their fortunes.

Zimbabweans have witnessed enough cronyism, nepotism, an economy in a tailspin, and rising unemployment, the list is endless.

In all this, there is a coterie pledging it will fight tooth and nail to see Mnangagwa hang on to power.

Local Government minister Daniel Garwe is one of them.

ICT minister Tatenda Mavetera is another.

Then there is Douglas Mahiya, the secretary for war veterans in the politburo, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube, Senate President Mabel Chinomona and Special Projects Presidential Adviser Paul Tungwarara.

A few hangers-on also complete the list.

Despite Mnangagwa having publicly said that he will “not be persuaded” to stay on, the grouping has said it will continue  persuading him.

Alone and on a pedestal in front of citizens, we would bet they do not have the guts to say it loud that Mnangagwa should stay on.

We have enough reason to believe that they are marionettes; that someone more powerful is pulling their strings.

Mnangagwa has claimed that he is a constitutionalist and will not contort the Constitution for whatever reason, and for that, he should come out in the open and tell the so-called “Persuaders” to refrain from mutilating the supreme law of the land.

The “Persuaders” have gone rogue.

We would assume they want to hold the President hostage.

We would also believe they are “criminals around the President”.

We urge the President to act against rogue elements surrounding him.

Their insistence suggests that they are acting on a ghostly whisper.

The President said he is “unpushable”: Whatever that means.

But judging by the actions of the ED2030ists, we have reason to believe that someone is blowing the wind under their wings.