A critical examination of the ramifications of the 2030 agenda on Freedom of Expression
Introduction
The Zimbabwean political landscape is on a knife's edge as tensions escalate within ZANU PF
over the contentious motion to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028.
Dubbed the "2030 agenda" by its proponents, this move has ignited a firestorm of criticism,
severely impacting the country's human rights record, particularly freedom of expression and
media freedom. As the agenda’s supporters seek to muzzle dissenting voices, and as the
opponents of the agenda seek to push back the agenda, the situation has become increasingly
volatile, with reports of arrests, detentions, and intimidation of journalists, and activists. This has
created a political landscape that is characteristic of volatility, uncertainty and perpetual fear for
the repeat of the 2017 events. All this has serious ramifications on human rights in general and
the right to freedom of expression in particular. This article examines the events around the push
and counter-push for the 2030 agenda and their implications on the right to freedom of
expression.
The 2030 Agenda
The 2030 agenda is a vigorous push by some sections of members of the ruling party, ZANU PF
to extend the current term of the President Emmerson Mnangagwa beyond the constitutional
limit of 2028. Proponents of the 2030 agenda argue that the president has performed so well
economically, socially and politically that the country can benefit from his prolonged stay in
power. They cite Vision 2030, a policy blueprint launched by the president in 2018 which aims to
make Zimbabwe “a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030” as a basis
to argue that the president needs to be in power beyond 2028 to see through his vision. They
argue that constitutional term limits are an unnecessary impediment to the achievement of Vision
2030 and as such, have to be done away with.
Opponents of the 2030 agenda on the other hand argue that Vision 2030 is a government policy
blueprint which can be implemented regardless of who is in power. They also argue that those