Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, is making moves to amend the national Constitution, aiming to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term in office beyond 2028. This initiative is expected to be a major topic at the upcoming 21st Annual People’s Conference in Bulawayo. Despite earlier commitments to step down after his second term, Mnangagwa’s supporters are rallying for changes that would allow him to continue his leadership.
The proposed amendments have stirred political waters within the party, particularly among factions led by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, who are seen as potential successors. With ZANU-PF holding a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the party is in a strong position to push these constitutional changes through.
Harare province recently resolved to support amendments to either remove the current two-term limit or extend the length of each presidential term. The provincial leadership believes these changes will enable Mnangagwa to complete his infrastructure projects and continue his vision for Zimbabwe.
Support Grows for Mnangagwa’s Continued Leadership
Godwills Masimirembwa, chairman of ZANU-PF’s Harare provincial branch, has been vocal about the need for Mnangagwa to stay in power. He stated that the inter-district conference was unanimous in its support for extending Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond 2028. “The Constitution of Zimbabwe must be amended to enable him to continue leading beyond 2028,” Masimirembwa told reporters.
He acknowledged the challenges in amending the Constitution but emphasized that the party is prepared to navigate these obstacles. “We understand there are constitutional limitations, such as the current cap of two five-year terms,” he said. “However, there are options available, such as extending each term’s length or removing the term limit altogether.”
Tendai Chirau, ZANU-PF’s deputy secretary for security, echoed this sentiment, praising Mnangagwa’s leadership and the progress made under his Vision 2030 plan. This initiative aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income country by 2030 through various development projects. According to Chirau, Mnangagwa’s continued leadership is essential for achieving these goals.
Momentum Builds Across Provinces
Support for the constitutional amendments is not limited to Harare. In ZANU-PF’s stronghold of Mashonaland West, the party’s various wings, including youth, war veterans, and women’s groups, have all expressed their desire for Mnangagwa to remain in office. Moreover, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, the provincial chairperson, presented these resolutions at a recent Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Nyabira.
“President Mnangagwa’s ongoing projects, such as roads, bridges, boreholes, and dams, are crucial for our country’s development,” Mliswa-Chikoka said. “We believe he is the right leader to continue driving these efforts.” The resolutions from Mashonaland West, along with those from other provinces, will be consolidated and presented at the People’s Conference in Bulawayo.
The upcoming conference is expected to formalize these recommendations, setting the stage for parliamentary debate. However, If successful, the amendments will enable Mnangagwa to extend his tenure, which could lead to significant shifts in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
Source: New Zimbabwe
