Mnangagwa loyalists saying only one man out of millions can develop Zimbabwe is an insult to every Zimbabwean

Tendai Ruben Mbofana

It was a praise song dedicated to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, urging him to remain in power beyond his constitutional mandate.

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The lyrics hailed his so-called achievements and insisted he must rule until 2030 and beyond.

One specific line struck me with force: “Va Mnangagwa mukasatonga nyika yenyu, tinoikoniwa.”

In English, this translates to a startling admission: “Mr. Mnangagwa, if you do not rule your country, we will fail.”

This statement is dangerous on every level.

There is no moral or legal justification for altering a country’s supreme law simply to keep one individual in office.

But the most tragic aspect of this message is how easily some among us render an entire nation useless just to justify one man’s political longevity.

This song is not an isolated piece of sycophancy.

It reflects the exact rhetoric behind the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 3 Act of 2026, which extended the presidential term limit.

The prevailing narrative claims President Mnangagwa must stay past his initial two five-term limit in 2028 to 2030 so the nation can enjoy development and continuity.

In the eyes of his loyalists, President Mnangagwa is the only human being among seventeen million people who can develop Zimbabwe.

They make this claim while ignoring the reality on the ground.

After nine years of his presidency, poverty levels remain staggering, with roughly 85 percent of the population living in poverty and nearly 50 percent in extreme poverty.

Unemployment is rampant.

Around 85 percent of all economic activity takes place in the informal sector, where workers face poor incomes, zero job security, and no pensions.

How can anyone declare with a straight face that out of millions of Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora, no one else possesses the competence to lead?

Is this not a profound insult to every single Zimbabwean?

It is even more alarming coming from a ruling party.

They are effectively telling the world that their entire political movement contains no capable leaders outside of an 84-year-old man.

Promoting such a view, even as political flatter, is profoundly reckless.

It mirrors the harmful belief once used to justify colonial oppression, where Africans were told they were incapable of governing themselves.

To accept that only one man can manage our affairs is to accept our own collective powerlessness.

Supporting a political leader is one thing.

Demeaning the intelligence and dignity of an entire nation in the process is quite another.

Zimbabwe is filled with brilliant, hardworking, and educated individuals.

Our citizens, forced abroad by years of economic mismanagement and corruption, are currently thriving and leading key industries across the globe.

Loyalists must stop insulting the character and capacity of our people.

We deserve respect, recognition, and the right to build our own collective future.

• *Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate and writer. Please feel free to contact him on +263715667700 or *

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