THE 2028 PROMISE UNDER THREAT JACOB KUDZAI MUTISI SPEAKS OUT

Описание: The Article
They Rigged the Elections, They Will Not Rig Our Future

What is being presented as a routine legal adjustment through Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 is, in truth, one of the most brazen political manoeuvres in our recent history. It is an attempt by a cross-party political elite drawn from both the ruling establishment and sections of the opposition to extend their stay in office from 2028 to 2030.

Let us call it what it is, an attempt to shift the goalposts after the match has already begun.

The mandate given to Members of Parliament and other elected officials was clear. Zimbabweans voted for a five-year term. That contract ends in 2028. It was not conditional. It was not flexible. It was not open to revision by those who benefit from altering it. It was a solemn agreement between the electorate and those entrusted with public office.

Now we are told that constitutional amendments are necessary. Necessary for whom? Necessary for what? Certainly not for the ordinary vendor in Mbare, the farmer in Chipinge, the miner in Hwange, or the nurse in Mpilo Hospital. The extension of political terms does not improve hospitals, lower the cost of living, fix broken roads or stabilise the currency. It only secures continued access to power and with it, access to privilege and state resources.

When politicians from opposing parties suddenly find common cause on matters that prolong their tenure, citizens must pause and ask hard questions. Political rivalry often disappears when personal benefit is at stake. That is the uncomfortable truth many Zimbabweans are beginning to recognise.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe is not a playground for political convenience. It is the supreme law born out of national consultation, sacrifice and public participation. It represents the will of the people. Any amendment that directly benefits sitting office holders must be subjected to the highest level of scrutiny and, ultimately, the approval of the people themselves.

Zimbabweans must remember, sovereignty resides in the people. Elected officials are not masters, they are servants of the people. Power is delegated, not surrendered. When leaders attempt to extend their mandate without returning to the electorate, they invert the very foundation of democracy.

We have been here before. Zimbabweans have previously rejected constitutional proposals that did not reflect the national interest. That moment proved something powerful that when citizens stand united, the ballot remains stronger than political manoeuvring.

I am not calling for unrest. I am calling for civic responsibility. Attend public hearings. Submit written objections. Engage peacefully but firmly. Demand transparency. Ask your Member of Parliament to state their position publicly. Hold them accountable.

If Amendment Bill No. 3 is truly in the national interest, let its proponents make their case openly and subject it to a referendum. But if it is merely a mechanism to extend political careers and delay electoral accountability, then it must be rejected without hesitation.

2028 is not just a date. It is a constitutional commitment.

Zimbabwe’s future must not be negotiated in political backrooms. It must be determined by its people freely, fairly and at the ballot box.

The time to remind politicians who the real masters are is now.

Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi

#Zimbabwe #AmendmentBill3 #ConstitutionOfZimbabwe #ZimbabwePolitics #2028Promise #Democracy #ReferendumNow #ZimParliament #ZimbabweNews #PoliticalAccountability #ZimDiaspora #RuleOfLaw #Sovereignty #ZANUPF #Election2028