Zimbabwe: Political chessboard on the brink of storm with Mnangagwa in the crosshairs

In Zimbabwe, debate is raging over whether to extend the term of Emmerson Mnangagwa, a man whose flamboyant career recalls in many ways the tragedies of a modern Shakespeare. This is not King Lear clinging to his throne, but a president in search of legitimacy, against the backdrop of a nation weary of the promise of change that has yet to materialize.

The turning point of an uncertain era

The Zimbabwean constitution, in theory, limits the presidential term to two five-year terms. But here, in Mnangagwa's kingdom, nothing is ever simple. As the approach of elections stirs passions, the question of whether the incumbent president can benefit from an extension for a third term raises fears of a repeat of the authoritarian excesses that the country has already seen too often. With economies faltering and a population increasingly disillusioned, the game of musical chairs of power seems to have only one actor: the immovable Mnangagwa.

Support and revolt

In the presidential camp, some applaud the idea of ​​a new term, the promise of stability in a chaotic socio-economic context. "Trust the one who has already proven himself," say Mnangagwa's close associates, brandishing statistics from a country in crisis - an African moral that we are beginning to understand. On the other hand, the opposition is protesting, evoking the urgent need for change and real democracy. "Have you ever tried change in a store where all the shelves are empty?" a cynic might retort. And here, the debate takes a comical turn: some seem ready to elect anyone, as long as it is different!

A nation on the verge of implosion?

The growing appetite for term limits among African leaders is a phenomenon as old as the construction of presidential palaces. Zimbabwe, with its history already tainted by authoritarianism, may well see this power struggle morph into another saga of freedom-loving students facing off against rows of police – in a nation where independence, democracy and prosperity still seem like promises to be kept.

Yet beneath the fiery rhetoric and campaign promises, the question looms: at what cost could Mnangagwa extend his rule, and what would that mean for Zimbabwe’s future? The answers are still hazy, shrouded in a fog of uncertainty and speculation. But one thing is certain: if we have learned anything from the troubled page in the country’s history book, it is that the voice of the people, though often stifled, will eventually be heard. And this time, the walls of power may shake more than ever.