HARARE – The ruling Zanu-PF party has ramped up its campaign to amend the Constitution, potentially allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond his current term, which is set to conclude in 2028. Senior party figures openly advocated for an extension to 2030 during a Zanu-PF conference feedback meeting held in Highfield, Harare, yesterday, signalling a significant political manoeuvre.
The controversial proposal was brought to the forefront during the meeting, where senior members urged the party’s grassroots supporters to rally behind the idea. This move follows a resolution at the party’s recent national conference in Mutare, where it was declared that President Mnangagwa’s term should be extended by two years to 2030. The conference further directed the party and government to “initiate the requisite legislative amendments to give full effect to this resolution to ensure continuity, stability and the sustained transformation of the nation.”
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa stated that Parliament should amend the Constitution to facilitate the extension of Mnangagwa’s tenure. “According to the conference’s resolution number 1, I was telling the masses that President Mnangagwa’s term should be extended and that Parliament should change the Constitution,” Masimirembwa said. “We cannot afford to lose the momentum of our development agenda by changing leadership now.”
Adding to the chorus of support, Zanu-PF politburo member Omega Hungwe framed the proposed constitutional change as a test of loyalty for Harare residents, who have consistently voted for the opposition since 2000. She urged residents to support the extension in the event of a referendum, stating that “in the event of a referendum, Harare residents should not sell out by voting ‘No’ to the extension.”
Central committee member and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei also voiced his support for continuity, arguing that “President Mnangagwa should continue leading us because we can’t change a scoring striker.”
For Mnangagwa to legally remain in power beyond 2028, Zanu-PF must navigate a complex constitutional process. The current Constitution, enacted in 2013, limits a president to two five-year terms. Mnangagwa, who secured his first term in 2018 after succeeding the late Robert Mugabe in a November 2017 coup, is currently serving his second and final term.
The Constitution stipulates that an incumbent cannot benefit from changes to the supreme law. However, to achieve the desired amendment, Zanu-PF, which holds a two-thirds majority in Parliament, will need to pass a Bill amending the Constitution. This requires a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Secondly, since the amendment affects the term of the President, it must be approved in a national referendum.
Fears are emerging that Zimbabweans could be coerced into voting “yes” in any referendum needed to facilitate amendments to the Constitution.
Political analyst Pardon Taodzera believes that Zanu-PF will inevitably attempt to alter the Constitution. “This is no longer a behind-the-scenes discussion, it is now official party mobilisation rhetoric,” he said. “Zanu-PF is testing the waters and simultaneously preparing its supporters for a major political battle. They are aware of the constitutional hurdles, hence the early start to galvanise their base and frame the narrative as one of necessary continuity versus chaos.”
Legal expert Arnold Humanikwa, however, suggests that changing the Constitution will not be a straightforward process for the ruling party. “While the procedure for amendment is clear in the Constitution, the substance of this particular change raises profound democratic questions,” Humanikwa said. “The presidential term limit was a hard-fought provision to prevent the perpetuation of executive power. Any attempt to remove it must be scrutinised not just for its legality, but for its conformity with the principles of democratic governance that underpin our supreme law.”
Presidential term limits were introduced in the 2013 Constitution, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the nation following the late Robert Mugabe’s reluctance to relinquish power. After assuming power through a coup, Mnangagwa pledged to usher in a “new kind of democracy” in Zimbabwe. However, critics argue that he has become an even more autocratic leader than his predecessor.
Constitutional Amendments Required
To enable President Mnangagwa to serve beyond 2028, several constitutional amendments would be necessary. Section 91(2) of the Constitution currently disqualifies a person from being elected as President or appointed as Vice-President if they have already held office as President for two terms. Therefore, this section would need to be amended, either by repealing it entirely or by changing the words “two terms” to a higher number.
Additionally, if the presidential term is to be extended from five to seven years, Section 95(1) of the Constitution, which fixes the length of the President’s term of office at five years, would also need to be amended. This would involve changing the words “five years” to “seven years.”
Extending the life of Parliament would necessitate further constitutional amendments to Sections 143(1) and 158(1), which currently fix the life of Parliament at five years.
The steps required to amend these sections are outlined in Section 328 of the Constitution:
- The Speaker must publish “the precise terms” of the proposed amendment in the Gazette, and the amendment cannot be introduced in Parliament until 90 days after that publication.
- The staff of Parliament must immediately invite the public to comment on the proposed amendment, through written submissions and public hearings convened by Parliament. In practice, these hearings are convened by the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and written submissions from the public are sent to that Committee.
The push to extend President Mnangagwa’s term has ignited debate about the future of Zimbabwean democracy and the importance of upholding constitutional principles.
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