Chiwenga the Godfather of 2030

PAKAIPA – The 2030 resoliution anhd movement in Zimbabwe has a clear origin story — and according to political observers, it all started with retired General Constantino Chiwenga setting the tone for how far ZANU-PF plans to go in consolidating power.

In a series of public statements over the years, Chiwenga repeatedly told the opposition to “keep quiet and enjoy the fruits of ZANU-PF’s labour”, insisting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be allowed to rule “until he is tired.”

The Vice President’s words didn’t stop there. In a landmark statement, he warned that if opposition parties continued to dare ZANU-PF, the ruling party could amend the constitution to cement Mnangagwa’s leadership — and the opposition would be powerless to stop it.

Political analysts say these remarks effectively made Chiwenga the godfather of the 2030 movement, linking Zimbabwe’s national development plan directly to ZANU-PF’s long-term hold on power.

“From 2019 onward, every major speech by Chiwenga reinforced this idea: continuity is key, opposition resistance is risky,” said one Harare-based political analyst.

Critics argue that the rhetoric has gone beyond governance — it has become a political weapon, discouraging dissent and signalling that the ruling party intends to dominate Zimbabwean politics until at least 2030.

Supporters, however, claim Chiwenga’s warnings are pragmatic, aimed at ensuring policy continuity so the country can achieve Vision 2030 goals, including infrastructure projects, industrialization, and economic stability.

Whatever the perspective, one thing is clear: the 2030 narrative is no longer just a development plan — it’s a political statement, and Chiwenga’s fingerprints are all over it. The General was the first to run with 2030 and those who claim that the General is opposed to 2030 have amnesia or havent been paying attention to politics.

As the country edges closer to the 2028 elections, the opposition faces the challenge of navigating a political landscape shaped by a figure who has repeatedly declared the ruling party’s intention to hold the fort — long and strong.