THE Patriotic Vendors for Economic Development (Vendors4ED) has pledged to ensure that President Emmerson Mnangagwa remains in power beyond 2028, declaring unwavering support for the ruling ZANU–PF leader.
The declaration comes as government-aligned groups intensify campaigns backing Constitutional Amendment No. 3, a controversial proposal that seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s current term of office by two years. Mnangagwa’s second term is constitutionally scheduled to end in 2028, and he has previously stated that he intends to step down at the end of his two-term limit.
The affiliate launched its Matabeleland North chapter in Lupane on Saturday, using the event to rally support for the proposed amendment and the extension of Mnangagwa’s tenure.
“The launch was marked by an electrifying spirit during a monumental occasion at the Lupane Terminus Vending Site, where the Matabeleland North Patriotic Vendors 4ED Provincial Launch took centre stage under the rousing theme ‘Inkomo ingamzala umuntu, uMongameli uED kaphumi eState House,’ meaning ‘a cow can give birth to a human, but ED will not leave the State House,’” the group said in a statement.
“It would be taboo or a great surprise to see the president walking away from the State House.”
The meeting began early in the morning with vendors marching around Lupane centre carrying banners and chanting slogans. The procession was led by Dumiso Makhalima, popularly known as Zone Commander, who introduced a song titled Inkomo Ingamzala Umuntu.
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Patriotic Vendors 4ED national chairperson Sawu Jere used the event to outline the affiliate’s slogan, mission, vision and roadmap.
“Great people from Matabeleland North, the Battle of Phuphu that we read in our history books started here. The white man was defeated right here in Lupane,” he said.
“We, as the new affiliate Patriotic Vendors, decided to rekindle our motto nationwide. Opponents of Bill No. 3 will not succeed; they will also be defeated throughout Zimbabwe after this well-organised programme.”
Jere said the affiliate was fully backing the amendment and the President’s Vision 2030 development agenda, as well as the National Development Strategy 2.
“We should let our president finish all his projects without any hindrances,” he said.
“We joined the vendors’ association in 2022, but due to unclear circumstances, we decided to register our own affiliate called Patriotic Vendors4ED.”
Guest of honour Sithembubuhle Sibanda said the launch would help strengthen the party’s grassroots structures and mobilise support ahead of key political processes.
“By integrating diverse affiliate groups such as Patriotic Vendors for ED, Pastors for ED, Young Women 4ED, MenBelievED, Mahwindi for ED and Teachers for ED into the party’s main structure, provincial launches foster unity and eliminate perceptions of parallel structures,” she said.
“Affiliates align with provincial and national leadership, reinforcing discipline and unity.”
Sibanda added that the groups also spearhead community development initiatives, including constructing clinics and drilling boreholes.
Meanwhile, Lupane MP Mbongeni Dube pledged to support the district’s vendors using his personal resources and donated food and other items for the event.
“This is our main message that everyone should take to society. I will definitely support vendors if they continue organising like this,” Dube said.