Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News
HARARE – The ruling ZANU-PF party has passed a resolution to initiate a constitutional amendment process that would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030, a move that has drawn immediate criticism from the United States.
The resolution, adopted during the party’s annual conference in Mutare last weekend, directs the government to begin the “requisite legislative amendments” to extend the presidential term. The motion was met with cheers from hundreds of party delegates.
Under the current constitution, President Mnangagwa, who was sworn in for his second and final term in 2023, is mandated to step down in 2028 after serving two five-year terms.
In response to the development, a senior US lawmaker, Gregory Meeks, issued a strong warning against the plan. Meeks, the ranking member of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that Washington was closely monitoring the situation in Harare.
“President Mnangagwa swore to strengthen the pillars of Zimbabwe’s democracy and accept term limits,” Meeks said. “Extending his term would erode that foundation.”
However, constitutional experts within Zimbabwe have pointed out that altering a sitting president’s term of office is a complex process. Legal opinions suggest that such a fundamental change may require approval through two separate national referendums, in addition to passing through the ZANU-PF-dominated parliament.
President Mnangagwa, who has previously described himself as a “constitutionalist,” has insisted he would not seek to overstay his mandate. Nonetheless, allies within the party have been publicly advocating for his extended tenure, arguing that he needs more time to consolidate his economic development plans.
The push for a term extension has also highlighted reported internal divisions within ZANU-PF, particularly between factions loyal to President Mnangagwa and those aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
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