30/03/2026
Why the Zimbabwean Parliament Should Not Elect the President!
Anyone who thinks President Mnangagwa wants two extra years only to leave power in 2030 is simply delusional. And anyone who still believes that President Mnangagwa does not want 2030 is equally delusional. Clearly, ED has "failed" to persuade the persuaders
Furthermore, it is not surprising that President Mnangagwa wants Parliament to choose the president. His election victories have been very narrow. In 2018, he got 50.3%. In 2023, he got just over 52%. This means that in both elections, nearly half of the voters did not choose him.
The decision to make Parliament vote for the president benefits ED more than anyone else.
If Parliament elects the president, the decision will no longer rest with voters. It will now truly and unquestionably be a decision made by a small group of powerful people.
We can look at China as an example.
China is a one-party state, and the ruling party decides who becomes president. After that, Parliament votes, but this is mostly a formality. Parliament simply confirms what the party has already decided. Yes, on paper there is a vote, but in practice the decision would have been made earlier. A similar situation could develop in Zimbabwe, where Parliament simply approves what powerful figures have already agreed.
Someone might say it does not matter, because ZANU-PF will always win anyway. Well, that's a fair point. However, there is an important difference. When the people vote directly, there is always a small chance of change. For example, in 2008, the ruling ZANU PF party failed to secure an outright victory in the first round.
So direct presidential elections keep that possibility alive. They give the opposition space to compete and remain relevant. If Parliament is given the power to choose the president, that small chance becomes even smaller. ZANU-PF’s hold on power would become more entrenched. The decision would move from millions of voters to a few individuals outside Parliament.
Yes, point taken. The decision of who becomes president was never entirely in the hands of the millions. But at least the millions made it harder for President Mnangagwa. They forced him to fight for narrow victories. His last victory was widely disputed and criticized by many observer missions, including SADC.
There is also the issue of influence. Zimbabwean MPs are among the lowest paid in the region. This makes them more vulnerable to pressure and bribes. Do 40k dollar loans ring a bell?
There is already a track record of powerful people influencing parliamentary decisions. Expecting MPs to vote completely independently in such a situation is a tough ask. The Mbinga syndrome affects the whole nation, including our law makers and opposition leaders.
For these reasons, keeping the power to elect the president in the hands of the people is important. Direct elections may not guarantee change, but they at least keep the door open.
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