President Emmerson Mnangagwa has on three occasions stated that he will step down when his term of office ends in 2028, but debate on this subject has refused to die down because some Zanu PF faction leaders insist that he must hang on to power.
The Zanu PF annual conference that was held in Bulawayo in October passed a resolution that said the constitution must be amended to remove the presidential term limits to allow Mnangagwa to serve more than two terms.
According to the 2013 constitution, which was voted for overwhelmingly by Zimbabweans from across the political divide, an individual can only serve two five-year terms as president.
Some Zanu PF provincial structures, especially in Masvingo and Harare, stepped up the campaign to remove the term limits with meetings that are happening almost on a daily basis.
They use the slogan ED2030.
Naturally, the media has taken an interest in the subject because it is in the public interest and is about the governance of this country.
Despite his public stance on the issue, Mnangagwa has done nothing to stop his loyalists from pushing the 2030 agenda.
He has not disassociated himself from the agenda.
It is against this background that we found threats by Mnangagwa’s office against our sister publication NewsDay for reporting on a visit to the president’s farm by Zanu PF affiliates where the 2030 agenda took centre stage very disturbing.
Some of the leaders of the Zanu PF affiliates confirmed that they went to the farm to express their solidarity with the 2030 agenda because they don’t believe Mnangagwa should vacate office when his term ends.
The president’s office, however, demanded a retraction from NewsDay on the basis that the Zanu PF leader pronounced himself on the issue several times.
There were also threats of a lawsuit if the newspaper decides not to retract the story.
The Information ministry also issued a separate statement condemning the NewsDay story.
It is quite clear that NewsDay is being targeted to send a chilling message to the media that the 2030 agenda should not be scrutinised.
The likely effect of those threats is that journalists would censor themselves and avoid the subject for their own safety as well as to protect the interests of their platforms, which risk crippling lawsuits.
Zimbabwe’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression and it is important that this is protected at all costs in the interest of democracy.