HARARE — The Zimbabwe government has hit back at former Botswana president Ian Khama after he branded president Emmerson Mnangagwa “power hungry” over Zanu PF’s push to amend the constitution and extend his stay in power to 2030.

Khama made the remarks on Facebook as he argued that little had changed in Zimbabwe since the days of Rhodesian leader Ian Smith.

“The only thing that has changed… is the name of the country and the names of its leaders,” Khama said. “Oppressors come in all colours.”

Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana dismissed the remarks as the ramblings of a man chasing relevance.

“Who really cares about the opinions of some washed up has-been seeking relevancy as a remedy to self-inflicted loneliness?” Mangwana said.

Khama, who served two terms as Botswana’s president between 2008 and 2018, has repeatedly criticised Zimbabwe’s leadership over what he regards as a failure to uphold human rights and democratic standards.

“Here we go again,” he wrote. “Another power hungry president has the constitution amended through rigging and cash inducements to extend his term of office.

“Zimbabwe has now become the latest in a growing list of countries whose presidents want to cling to power and manipulate the constitution to achieve that.”

He pointed to Cameroon’s 93-year-old leader Paul Biya, in power for 43 years; Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled for 40 years; and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, 68, who has led his country for 26 years.

“Political assassinations, fabricated charges and detentions, kidnappings and disappearances as recently in Tanzania and Uganda are the modus operandi of these and other such tyrants,” Khama said.

“Zimbabwe and its long suffering people have been subjected to the same from the days of Gukurahundi to present day. Oppressors come in all colours.”

The National Assembly passed the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill on June 18, voting 216 to 42 in favour – well clear of the 187 votes needed for the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitution. The bill extends presidential terms from five years to seven.

The change would allow Mnangagwa, 83, to remain in office until 2030, two years beyond the end of his current term. He came to power through a coup in November 2017.

Zanu PF supporters of the extension argue it will bring stability, cut election costs and allow for longer-term economic planning.

The campaign has faced unusually vocal opposition from the public and some war veterans, who have turned on their former ally, accusing him of a power grab.

Other changes in the bill would see the president elected by parliament rather than by direct popular vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for a second vote before it can be ratified.