The battle for power in Zimbabwe has taken a dramatic turn, and the message is clear: Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dream of ruling until 2030 is over. After months of chanting, singing, and campaigning for his third term, the silence at the recent National Youth Day Commemorations in Bulawayo has spoken louder than words. Not a single “2030 ndeya Emmerson” could be heard. For a man used to crowds cheering his name, the quiet was deafening.

This silence was not just a mistake or poor planning — it was a statement. A statement from the military. A statement from Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. A statement from the ruling elite who have now decided that Mnangagwa must go. The very people who helped him rise in 2017 are now pushing him out.

Chiwenga, calm and composed at the Bulawayo event, stood next to his wife, saying nothing. But his silence was louder than any speech. Behind the scenes, it is clear he is now in control. The military, which has always been ZANU PF’s real power base, has made its position known. Days before the Youth Day event, armoured vehicles and military trucks rolled through the streets of Harare. The message? The army will not support a third term for Mnangagwa.

A military insider confirmed what many already suspected. The army is “unequivocal” — they will not allow Mnangagwa to stay beyond 2028. That is the end of his second term, and they insist it must also be the end of his presidency. No more games. No more slogans. No more pretending.

Mnangagwa has tried to distance himself from the “2030” campaign. He now says he plans to retire in 2028. But we all know that his supporters have been pushing the third-term agenda with his full blessing — until now. The military pushback has changed everything. The campaign has collapsed. The silence in Bulawayo is the proof.

Even the war veterans have turned their backs on him. Led by outspoken voices like Blessed Geza, they are demanding that Mnangagwa step down immediately. They say he has failed. They say he has betrayed the liberation struggle. They say he must go. For a man who built his career on war credentials, this is a brutal rejection.

Inside ZANU PF, power is shifting. The songs for 2030 have died. The slogans have stopped. The army has spoken. And now, all eyes are on Chiwenga. Once the man behind Mnangagwa’s rise, he now stands ready to replace him. His military background, his calm presence, and his growing support within the party make him the likely successor.

Mnangagwa’s time is up. He can try to hold on, but the tide has turned. The military, the war veterans, and even his own supporters are no longer with him. The third-term fantasy is finished. Zimbabwe is entering a new phase of political power games, but one thing is clear — Mnangagwa is no longer in control.

What comes next is uncertain. Chiwenga may rise, but Zimbabweans know too well that one leader replaced by another is not always the change we need. Still, this moment marks the fall of a man who thought he could rule forever. And for those of us fighting for democracy, truth, and justice, it is a sign that even the most powerful can be brought down.

The people are watching. The world is watching. And the 2030 campaign is dead.