HARARE – Zimbabwe has been rocked by allegations of large-scale land bribery involving Members of Parliament, coinciding with the sudden adjournment of Parliament amid looming impeachment proceedings against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The legislators are allegedly receiving land allocations from Mnangagwa’s government in exchange for loyalty ahead of the tabling of the impeachment motion.
On Wednesday morning, at least seventy MPs from different parts of the country were seen at the Mabelreign District Office in Harare, receiving pieces of land as a bribe not to vote against Emmerson Mnangagwa in an impeachment vote.
According to journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, the land they were receiving “is also part of the payment they were promised in exchange for supporting Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his term of office to 2030.
“The land is being taken from greenways in Ward 16 in Mabelreign and in Westgate. The allocation of this land was done by Mnangagwa’s 2030 supporter and trumpet, the Local Government Minister, Daniel Garwe.”
On Tuesday, parliamentary proceedings were dramatically halted allegedly to prevent the scheduled presentation of an impeachment bill. Parliament announced an adjournment until May 6, 2025, heightening speculation about the government’s efforts to suppress the motion.
The impeachment motion, spearheaded by a faction within the ruling Zanu-PF party, alleges that Mnangagwa is unfit for office due to “lack of mental capacity” and widespread corruption.
The draft motion, citing Section 97 of the Zimbabwean Constitution, claims Mnangagwa suffers from “vascular dementia,” leading to “severe cognitive decline” and rendering him incapable of fulfilling his presidential duties.
The motion accuses Mnangagwa of economic mismanagement, including fraudulent issuance of Treasury Bills, illegal privatization of state assets, and money laundering.
It also alleges his involvement in corrupt deals related to the e-passport system and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
The allegations of bribery coincide with the absence of both the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Senate, who are reportedly attending a meeting abroad.
Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi suggested that their absence is a deliberate attempt to avoid presiding over the contentious impeachment motions. He called for a period of “rapprochement” before the scheduled resumption of Parliament on May 6th.
“Both Presiding Officers (Speaker of Parliament and President of the Senate) are out of the Country attending some meeting, no doubt the two most important Motions awaiting them are being sponsored by the two contesting factions; 2030 vs Impeachment.
“Nobody is taking a chance even if means flying with the keys outside the country which is theatrically and theoretically what has happened but clearly also separation of powers is now a myth with the three pillars of the State collapsed into one in a feat of survival, trust deficits widened in the cockpit notwithstanding keeping up of appearances.
“It is unhealthy like a rocky marriage to put a government on trial separation under one roof but seemingly sleeping in different bedrooms, and sooner rather than later the ‘aunties’ must step in to reconcile the feuding parties for the smooth functioning of the people’s business.
“Use this gap period to the 6th of May for ‘rapprochement’ instead of whipping, witch-hunting and loyalty buying; it only entrenches the divisions,” Mzembi stated.
The draft impeachment motion, which has been circulating, specifically details the several accusations against Mnangagwa, including allegations of “severe cognitive decline” due to “vascular dementia,” rendering him incapable of performing presidential duties.
Accusations of fraudulent issuance of Treasury Bills and subsequent currency collapse, resulting in significant financial losses are also being raised against the Zanu-PF leader.
Allegations of illegal privatization of state assets, money laundering, and corrupt deals related to the e-passport system, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, using presidential programs for personal enrichment and undermining the Constitution and protecting individuals involved in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission fraud scandal have been noted.
Mnangagwa is blamed for allegedly increasing national debt without sustainable repayment plans.
He is being linked to the issuance of illegal drug permits to close associates and attempting to extend his term beyond the constitutionally stipulated two terms.
The draft motion calls for a joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly to establish a committee to investigate the grounds for impeachment under Section 97(1)(c) and (d) of the Constitution.
Zanu-PF is currently rocked by massive factionalism linked to the succession fight between Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga. Chiwenga is opposed to the plan to extend Mnangagwa’s rule beyond 2028.
