Itai Mazire

Zanu PF provincial leadership has thrown its weight behind Constitutional Amendment Number 3, with Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira declaring that the party’s cell restructuring has reinvigorated grassroots support and positioned the ruling party for total dominance .

Minister Chadzamira framed the constitutional amendments as essential to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 agenda, which the Bill’s term extension provisions directly facilitate .

“Those who dream of another leader before 2030 should seek exorcism of evil spirits because President Mnangagwa is our God-ordained leader, shepherding the country towards Vision 2030,” he said.

The Minister emphasized that the party’s cell mobilisation drive, rebuilding structures from the village level upward-has breathed new life into Zanu PF’s grassroots machinery ahead of future electoral contests .

“The cell system is the backbone of our revolutionary party. We now have a direct line from the President to the village. Every ward, every village, every household is now part of our structure. This is why we are winning, and this is why we will continue to win,” said Minister Chadzamira.

“Those opposing Amendment Number 3 do not understand the wishes of the people. The people want development, not endless elections. They want roads, schools, and clinics, not annual campaigns that divide communities,” he said.

“This amendment is not about individuals; it is about ensuring that Vision 2030 is not derailed by premature political contests. We need time to deliver, and the people have given us that mandate.”

He said that the cell restructuring programme has transformed the party’s organisational capacity .

“We now have cells reporting upwards every week. We know the challenges our people face because we are living among them. This is the difference between Zanu PF and opposition parties that only remember the people during elections.”

The cell restructuring programme, which Zanu PF has prioritized nationally, aims to ensure every ward and village has active party structures capable of mobilizing support and communicating party policies directly to communities .

“Our structures are now stronger than ever. We are building a party that will serve the people uninterrupted, without the disruptions that come with election cycles. Amendment Number 3 secures this continuity,” said Hon.Chadzamira.

Hon. Chadzamira’s endorsement of Amendment Number 3 aligns Masvingo province President Mnangagwa’s home region and a traditional Zanu PF stronghold-firmly behind the constitutional changes now before Parliament .

“Masvingo stands with President Mnangagwa. Masvingo stands with Vision 2030. Masvingo stands with Amendment Number 3. Anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming,” he said.

Takudzwa Karowangoro

In Zimbabwe, traditional leaders view Valentine’s Day not as a once-off celebration, but as a reminder that love should be practised every day. They emphasise that African culture promotes continuous affection, respect, and responsibility within families, rather than concentrating love on a single calendar date.

Traditional elders under the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) say Zimbabwean tradition places strong value on day-to-day love that keeps homes united and peaceful. According to ZINATHA Secretary for Finance, Tateguru Ndudzo, Valentine’s Day itself carries little cultural importance.

“In our culture, we encourage people to love each other every day. Homes should always be filled with love and happiness. Celebrating love once a year does not make sense when love should exist at all times,” Ndudzo explains.

He adds that traditional values promote constant love, not seasonal or symbolic gestures. Ndudzo notes that Valentine’s Day has, in some cases, become a source of tension rather than unity.

“Some married men buy Valentine’s gifts for girlfriends outside marriage while their own homes lack love. When wives later discover this, families break down,” he says.

Traditional leaders also point out that, despite being described as a day of love, Valentine’s Day sometimes ends in conflict. Ndudzo says disagreements, fights, and domestic disputes often increase during this period, contradicting the true meaning of the day.

From a cultural perspective, prominent traditional healer Sekuru Banda explains that the celebration of love is not new to African societies. Long before Valentine’s Day was introduced, African communities already had cultural practices centred on strengthening relationships.

“In our culture, there was a day known as ‘zuva remoyo umwe’ chete the day of one heart. Couples would spend the day together, away from daily responsibilities, talking about love, reflecting on how they came together, and resolving issues peacefully,” Sekuru Banda explains.

He adds that this practice was not limited to young couples, as elders also participated. The celebration was flexible sometimes lasting one day and, in other cases, three days and was not tied to the month of February.

“The focus was on unity, understanding, and restoring harmony in the home,” he says.

Traditional leaders further argue that modern Valentine’s Day celebrations often prioritise material gifts over genuine care and responsibility. In Zimbabwean culture, love is demonstrated through daily actions providing, protecting, respecting, and remaining faithful rather than through once-off gestures.

Voices from the Streets of Harare

On the streets of Harare, residents shared mixed views about Valentine’s Day and its meaning.

Tendai Moyo, a 29-year-old commuter omnibus driver in the city centre, said love should not be commercialised.

“Valentine’s Day is nice, but real love is about how you treat someone every day. If you only buy flowers on 14 February and ignore your partner the rest of the year, that’s not love,” he said.

Rudo Chikore, a vendor in Mbare, agreed that daily care matters more than expensive gifts.

“We don’t need big presents. Even helping with groceries or checking on your partner shows love. Our parents didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, but their marriages lasted,” she said.

However, not everyone dismisses the celebration. Tapiwa Dube, a university student, believes Valentine’s Day can still have meaning.

“There’s nothing wrong with celebrating love on a special day. As long as it doesn’t destroy families, it can just be a reminder to appreciate each other,” he said.

While Valentine’s Day continues to gain popularity, Zimbabwe’s traditional leaders maintain that love should remain a daily commitment rooted in cultural values that strengthen families, preserve unity, and promote social harmony.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has thrown his weight behind the Constitutional Amendment No. 3b Bill, defending the proposed overhaul as a pro-people measure designed to slash election-related disruptions and ensure long-term development programmes reach completion.

Speaking amid a heated political storm over the Bill’s provisions-which include extending presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and scrapping direct presidential elections-Hon Garwe framed the changes as a necessary evolution for national stability.

“This amendment is about shielding our development agenda from the paralysis that comes with endless election cycles,” Hon. Garwe told journalists following a tense Cabinet session.

“For the ordinary person in the village, this means their road is finished, their clinic is staffed, and their children’s school is built-without the stop-start chaos of annual political campaigns,” he said.

The Bill, approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, seeks to replace direct popular votes for the President with a parliamentary voting system.

It also proposes extending the current term of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, originally set to end in 2028, to 2030.

Hon. Garwe, dismissed opposition claims that the amendments were a power grab, insisting they were the logical culmination of the ruling party’s 2030 agenda.

“The Zanu PF conference in Mutare resolved that we want to see this vision through.

“This is not about individuals; it is about ensuring policy continuity for the benefit of the masses,” he said.

Former Information Minister Jenfan Muswere has echoed Garwe’s sentiments, stating the reforms aim to reduce “election-related disruptions” and “allow sufficient time for the implementation of long-term national projects.”

Opposition and civil society groups, however, have vowed resistance, with some petitioning the African Union to intervene against what they term a “coup in motion.”