Arrest ED2030 lobbyists: Sibanda

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Sibanda’s call comes at a time when all Zanu PF structures at provincial level have endorsed Mnangagwa to rule beyond 2028 when his second term expires.

FORMER Bulawayo Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) senator Felix Magalela Sibanda has described as criminals people who are lobbying for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to violate the country’s Constitution by extending his term to 2030 saying they must be arrested and jailed.

Sibanda’s call comes at a time when all Zanu PF structures at provincial level have endorsed Mnangagwa to rule beyond 2028 when his second term expires.

Constitutionally, a president can only serve two five-year terms and cannot be beneficiary to amendments to the Constitution giving rise term extension.

In a statement yesterday, Sibanda said all those agitating for Mnangagwa to violate the Constitution should be arrested.

“According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Chapter 5 (90), the President of Zimbabwe must uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the nation and must ensure that the Constitution and all other laws are faithfully observed,” he said.

“Therefore, all those people agitating for Mnanangwa to extend his tenure should be arrested forthwith because they are encouraging the wanton violation of the supreme law of the nation, which is highly unconstitutional and treasonous to say the least.”

Sibanda added that Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga should move fast to bring the culprits to book.

“We, as concerned citizens, are calling and appealing to the Police Commissioner-General to move fast by arresting all these political zealots who want to cause untold socio-political upheavals in this country because of their self-preservation and selfish ends,” the former opposition senator said.

“Police officers have a constitutional right to arrest anyone if there are reasonable suspicions that they are about to commit a crime or have actually committed a crime.

“In this case, all suspects are well known and are recorded by ZBC [Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television] and various local, regional and international news outlets.”

Mnangagwa has twice publicly refuted claims that he is seeking to extend his rule to 2030.

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