MNANGAGWA FEARS A COUP, SO HE EXTENDS GENERAL’S TERM TO HOLD ONTO POWER

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has once again shown that he will do anything to stay in power in Zimbabwe. As a political activist who is against the ZANU PF government, I must speak out. Zimbabweans must see what is going on. Mnangagwa is not trying to build democracy. He is doing everything to protect himself, even if it means bending rules and keeping the same army men in power for years.

This week, Mnangagwa made a shocking move. He extended the term of General Philip Valerio Sibanda, the head of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, by another year. Sibanda was supposed to step down in December 2024. But now he will stay until November 2025. This is not just a normal decision. It is a political strategy. Mnangagwa knows his seat is shaking. He knows his rival, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, is waiting for a chance to take over. By keeping Sibanda in charge, Mnangagwa is protecting himself from another military coup.

Let us remember how Mnangagwa came to power. In 2017, he used the army to remove Robert Mugabe. It was not a free election. It was a coup. Since then, Mnangagwa has ruled Zimbabwe like a dictator. The people are suffering, and only a few at the top are enjoying life. Now he fears the same army that helped him could turn against him. That is why he needs Sibanda. In 2019, when Mnangagwa was out of the country, there was talk of a coup. Sibanda stood by him. Without Sibanda, Mnangagwa would have been gone. He knows it.

Now in 2025, we see the same pattern. Mnangagwa is not preparing to leave office in 2028 like the Constitution says. He is planning for 2030 and beyond. This extension is part of the plan. He wants to build a strong wall around himself. Chiwenga has many friends in the military. That is why Mnangagwa is scared. By holding on to Sibanda, he is trying to keep the army on his side. But this is not democracy. This is fear and survival politics.

As an activist, I speak for the ordinary Zimbabwean who is tired. Tired of lies, tired of poverty, tired of fake promises. While they extend each other’s terms, the people are starving. We have no jobs, no clean water, no working hospitals. Yet our leaders focus only on staying in power. They do not care about the Constitution. They only care about themselves.

This power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga will only bring more suffering to the people. It is not about leadership. It is a fight between two men who both want to control Zimbabwe. And the army is in the middle. That is why Mnangagwa wants to make sure Sibanda remains loyal. It is a dangerous game.

Zimbabwe cannot continue like this. We need real democracy. We need leaders who follow the Constitution. Leaders who step down when their time is up. We need elections that are free and fair, not controlled by fear and military threats.

Extending Sibanda’s term shows Mnangagwa is not ready to let go. But we, the people, must continue to speak out. We must organise, protest, and resist. Our country deserves better. We cannot let fear rule us forever. We must push for a new Zimbabwe where power is earned, not stolen.

This move by Mnangagwa is not strength—it is fear. And one day, that fear will not be enough to protect him. The people will rise. We always do.