HARARE – Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, has reaffirmed its controversial plan to amend the country’s constitution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term by at least two years, a move that would see him remain in power until 2030 and cancel the 2028 general elections.
The resolution, known as “Resolution Number One,” was solidified at the party’s recent conference in Mutare, intensifying the nation’s political uncertainty and setting the stage for a significant constitutional battle.
“The People’s Will” vs. Constitutional Limits
While President Mnangagwa has publicly stated he is a constitutionalist and will step down in 2028, his allies are driving the amendment forward. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who also serves as the party’s legal secretary, has been tasked with fast-tracking the legal process, asserting that Mnangagwa will rule beyond the current limit “if the people are in support of it.”
Campaigners for the extension, dubbed “Agenda 2030,” argue the president needs more time to complete national development projects. However, critics see it as a blatant power grab.
A Weakened Opposition and a Silent Rival
The main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been severely weakened by state-sponsored recalls from parliament following the 2023 elections. This has left ZANU-PF with a commanding two-thirds majority, making the parliamentary passage of the amendment a likely formality.
The move is also seen as a strategic checkmate against Mnangagwa’s key rival, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who has been locked in a fierce succession battle. Analysts note that Chiwenga’s silence at the party conference indicates he has been politically outmanoeuvred, for now. His recent anti-corruption crusade, targeting businessmen closely allied with Mnangagwa who are bankrolling the term extension, has so far failed to derail the agenda.
A Daunting Legal and Political Battle Ahead
Despite ZANU-PF’s parliamentary dominance, the path to amendment is legally arduous. Legal experts point out that changing the presidential term limit requires “big reforms, including two referendums,” a hurdle that opposition groups and civil society vow to exploit.
“The 2030 campaign will never see the light of day. We will do everything permissible in a democratic society… to defend our democracy,” said CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi. Other opposition leaders are calling for public protests and court challenges.
Political analysts are divided on the outcome. Some believe the move is so unpopular it could “fast-track [Mnangagwa’s] departure,” while others warn it will undoubtedly “exacerbate political tensions” in a country already facing profound economic challenges. The coming months will test whether constitutional integrity or executive ambition will prevail in Zimbabwe.
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