“2030 Anenge Achipo” Slogan Sparks Controversy: Midlands at War With Cde Mbalekwa

By Dr Masimba Mavaza

The campaign for “2030 anenge achipo” movement has become ugly as Midlands started proceedings to expel those who refuse to chant slogans for 2030 proponents.
In a PEC meeting in Midlands a motion to expel Cde Pearson Mbalekwa, the Provincial Secretary for Security, from the party as a punishment for refusing to chant the 2030 slogan was put in motion.

In a very vicious dictatorial move ZANU PF provinces have started intimidating and threatening members who refuse to accept the 2030 ED anenge achipo campaign.
Cde Pearson Mbalekwa a retired senior officer from the President’s office refused to chant 2030 slogans citing that it was not sanctioned by the party.

Asked on the proceedings to fire him from the party Cde P Mbalekwa said “Yes , I am aware of that, it is sad because they have no justifiable reason to do so. I have not transgressed any law. I will never accept to be shepherded into doing something which I know is not good for the party or the President.” Cde Mbalekwa said.

“The reason why they want to get me fired from the party is because I have refused to be used by a corrupt cabal to endorse the extension of the President’s term to 2030 and will never endorse that.
It’s them who need to be taken before a disciplinary hearing for defying the President’s wishes to retire. Their slogan has not been approved by the Central Committee and therefore it’s not an official slogan. I am actually waiting to be presented with the charges and I am ready to take them on at any time and any place of their choice. I shall not be intimidated by political bullies who break the tenets of the Nation and party Constitution at every turn.” Cde Mbalekwa retorted angrily.

“They don’t own the party, the party belongs to the people and they are not the people but members of the party.
It only shows that people are placed into leadership position without knowing what is Contained in the party constitution.
Unless ZANUPF is now run by thugs and criminals , there is no way any sane leadership can claim that I transgressed the party protocols or Constitution by refusing to chant a slogan which is not approved by the Central Committee.”

Cde Mbalekwa questioned whether refusing to chant a slogan for the extension of the president’s term to 2030 interpreted as fighting the President. “The President’s term officially ends in 2028 and I campaigned for him and voted for him wholeheartedly so that he wins and serves the Nation until 2028 and not 2033. So where am I fighting the President who is actually my guardian?”

Midlands is cursed with people who think that the party is their private property. The plot to alter and break the constitution of the country was started by Cde Owen Ncube and Cde July Moyo from Midlands. After their shenanigans came into the open many hangers came out to support them. This has never been for the President but for the selfish ends of these individuals.

The President is on record saying he will never extend his term and he is a constitutionalist who will never usurp the Constitution. Therefore the campaign to force the president to extend his term in office is diabolic and evil. It looks like the love for the president yet it is a plot to destroy the president and his legacy.

“The President is a constitutionalist and he said so on several occasions and so am I,” said cde Mbalekwa. “It’s a shame and a disgrace that I am being accused of not supporting my President , what a travesty of Justice and truth. I was the first person in ZANUPF to publicly propagate for President Mnangagwa to takeover from late Cde Simon Muzenda as the Vice President of Zimbabwe back in 2003 when those who are now masquerading as the most concerned people about the President were hiding and soiling their sheets.
During my battles with those who were supporting Cde Joice Mujuru who later morphed into the so called Gamatox. I was persecuted and my farm was raided and all my farm equipment was taken away till this day but that did not douse my support for the President.
I openly supported President when he was being attacked left and right by Members of the G40 even when he was being accused of being disloyal to late President Mugabe.
When he was removed as Vice President and left for South Africa my life and my farm was under siege and Gamatox supporters raided the farm threatening to repossess the farm because I was a well known supporter of President Mnangagwa.
That situation prompted me to leave the Country in search of President Mnangagwa in South Africa . Cde Mutsvangwa can bear witness on this as we re-united in South Africa because our safety was no longer guaranteed in Zimbabwe. Infact many comrades who fearlessly confronted the G40 have been sidelined by these people who are now making themselves kingmakers.
“I don’t support the idea of extending the President’s term of office because I care so much about him that I cannot do so with a clear conscience.
How can I now want to support the same thing that I fought Mugabe against. The memory of these chancers has very short legs.
What makes those that are falsely accusing me of not supporting the President seem genuine is their lies that they have been sent by the president. History normally repeats itself things will turn out different from the peoples wrath witnessed against Mugabe.
Many who are agitating for the breach of the constitution are doing so to divert the attention from their corrupt ways. They believe that viciously campaigning for the 2030 unconstitutional campaign is a sign to show that they are very close to the president. Those clamoring for the extension of the President’s term have self serving interests not the President’s interests. “ Do they realize that they are destroying every bit of a legacy that he has built during his tenure?”. Do they tell us that there is no other leader within ZANUPF capable of carrying vision 2030 after he is gone. Does ZANUPF perish after he is gone because according to those who are pushing for this unpopular and dangerous idea ZANUPF cannot go beyond President Mnangagwa’s term in office.”

My last political defence of President Mnangagwa’s political career and leadership is to fight to defend the party and National Constitutions which every peace loving and democratic person must defend at all cost.
“Most of those attacking me were school boys at the time I was fighting lone battles against Mugabe and I was a Member of Central Committee way back in 2004 when they were not even Members of ZANUPF.”

“I am not one who is possessed with greed or power for then, I was already in the corridors of power as a Member of Parliament and a member of the central committee. For me it is a question of principal and honesty.
Let us all respect our laws and defend the Constitution and defend the president who has openly declared that he has no interest to go beyond his term limit in office, that is the only way our country can be respected regionally and internationally. Let’s all support the President’s wish to take a deserved rest . That would be the greatest honour and respect we can bestow upon him.” Cde Mbalekwa continued “If however my political detractors intent to defile the Constitution and parade me before a disciplinary hearing for being right , then let it be. I will gladly appear before that committee and I will stick to my guns of supporting the president’s wish of wanting to rest and the Constitution which requires that one cannot go beyond 2 terms as a President in Zimbabwe.”

“The nation is being driven to a fatal collusion by selfish and very few people who are trying to manipulate the people and the party.”

Cde Owen Ncube and July Moyo could not be reached for comment as their phones were continuously busy.