Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said extending President Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028 is a rightful obligation for Parliament and other stakeholders.
In a statement on Wednesday, 22 January, Muswere criticized the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) for opposing the Presidential Term Limit Extension.
On Tuesday, the ZHOCD warned that extending Mnangagwa’s term would amount to a coup against the constitution.
Muswere claimed ZHOCD consists of donor-funded individuals pretending to represent the Church in Zimbabwe.
He reminded Christian leaders that ZANU PF is the political establishment that delivered freedom of expression and religion. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
The politically broad-based call to extend the Presidential term of office beyond 2028 remains a rightful and unquestionable obligation for Parliament, the Party of Zimbabwe’s permanent national democratic revolution -ZANU PF and other legitimate political stakeholders to this matter.
Parliamentarians from the cross-sectional divide of political parties represent the views and interests of their electorate.
Submissions by Honourable Members of Parliament reflect the aspirations of those who voted the constituencies they were elected to serve.
The Parliament is not answerable to narrow, sectoral and regime- change donor funding antics by a paltry conglomerate of civil society entrepreneurs purporting to represent the views of the Church in Zimbabwe.
In the same vein, such Western donor organisations need not to be reminded that ZANU PF is a political establishment which delivered freedom of expression and freedom of religion among many other rights we all enjoy today.
Likewise, the ZANU PF-led Government still ferociously defends freedom of worship for all Zimbabweans most of which are not affiliated to the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHCD) outfit.
However, it is crucial for ZANU PF’s godly existential values not to be abused by minority entities and individuals bent on misrepresenting the cordial relationship which the state and the church enjoy.
The proposal to move a motion on the Presidential Term Limit Extension will follow the provisions of the law.
It must be emphasized that the Constitution will remain centrifugal throughout this process with no iota of infractions.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

The Minister of Information, Jenfan Muswere, says it's important for President Mnangagwa's rule to be extended beyond 2028. He criticized church leaders for speaking out against this. The church leaders warned that extending the term would go against the law. Muswere thinks the church leaders are influenced by donors and don't represent the true feelings of Zimbabweans. He says that ZANU PF, the ruling party, has given people the freedom to speak and practice their religion. The decision to extend the president's term will follow the law and the Constitution will be respected.

Muswere Castigates Church Leaders For Opposing The Extension Of Mnangagwa's Term

By Lenon Itai Rwizi
<h2>Introduction</h2>
In recent weeks, Zimbabweans have witnessed growing public calls for amendments to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013, and in the process, extending President Mnangagwa’s stay as President of the Republic. It should be noted that, though on several occasions, President Mnangagwa has publicly declared disinterest in extending his stay in power, the conversation has stimulated enough interest to make it worth examining the constitutional changes that would have to take place for the President to be allowed to serve a third term.
This writeup seeks to provide a simple step-by-step, explanation of the provisions of the Constitution that speak to Presidential term limits and changes to the same.
<h2>
Vital Steps for the Incumbent to Change the Two Term Limit</h2>
According to section 91(2) of the Constitution:
<blockquote>
“A person is disqualified for election as President or appointment as Vice-President if he or she has already held office as President for two terms, whether continuous or not, and for the purpose of this subsection three or more years’ service is deemed to be a full term.”
</blockquote>
By the 2028, President Mnangagwa will have served two full terms, so he will not be eligible to stand for election as President or Vice-President. Therefore, the Constitution would have to be amended before the President can legally serve another term in office as President or Vice President.
<h2>Which provisions of the Constitution would need to be amended?</h2>
The first amendment would be to section 91, which as can be seen sets out the current presidential term-limit. The amendment would entail repealing section 91(2) (if the intention is to completely remove presidential term-limits) or changing the words “two terms” to “three terms, or however many terms a President will be allowed to serve (if it is decided to extend the number of terms rather than scrap the limits completely).
The steps needed to amend section 91 are set out in section 328 of the Constitution:
<ul>
<li>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 [section 328(3)].</li>
<li>The staff of Parliament must immediately invite the public to comment on the proposed amendment, through written submissions and public hearings convened by Parliament [section 328(4)]. 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.</li>
<li>The Bill containing the amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority at its final reading [i.e. the Third Reading] in both the National Assembly and the Senate, and when the Bill is sent to the President for assent the Speaker and presiding officer of the Senate must certify that it has received the requisite majorities [section 328(5) and (10) of the Constitution].</li>
</ul>
If these steps are taken, section 91 will be amended to allow a President to serve more than two terms in office.
There is a catch, however: the amendment will not apply to President Mnangagwa.
<h2>Section 328(7) of the Constitution</h2>
The reason why the above amendment would not apply to President Mnangagwa lies in section 382(7), which was designed to make it difficult for incumbent office-holders (particularly Presidents) to extend their terms of office. It states:
<blockquote>
“Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an amendment to a term-limit provision [Note: section 91(2) is a term-limit provision] the effect of which is to extend the length of time that a person may hold or occupy any public office, does not apply in relation to any person who held or occupied that office, or an equivalent office, at any time before the amendment.”
</blockquote>
Put simply this means that an amendment to section 91 of the Constitution extending presidential term-limits will apply only to future Presidents. It will not allow an incumbent or past President to extend the period he may hold presidential office. So, if section 91 were amended by following the steps we outlined above, President Mnangagwa could not benefit from the amendment and could not legally be elected for a third term.
To enable him to be elected for a third term, section 328(7) itself would have to be amended or repealed. To do this, a Bill amending or repealing section 328(7) would have to go through all the steps we outlined above – the Bill would have to be published in the Gazette for 90 days, it would have to be passed by two-thirds majorities in the National Assembly and the Senate, and so on.
BUT after that, within three months after being passed, the Bill would have to be submitted to a national referendum and approved by a majority of the voters casting their votes. This is set out in section 328(9) of the Constitution.
<h2>Brief Procedure for Extending the Current President’s Term</h2>
To sum up the procedure that would have to be followed if it is decided that President Mnangagwa should be able to stand again for election, the following steps would have to be taken.
<ul>
<li>A Bill amending both section 91 and section 328(7) of the Constitution would have to be published in the Gazette for at least 90 days.</li>
<li>Parliament would have to invite public comments, written and verbal, on the proposed amendments.</li>
<li>The Bill would have to be passed by two-thirds majorities at its final readings in both the National Assembly and the Senate.</li>
<li>Within three months the Bill would have to be put to a referendum and passed by a majority of the voters who cast their votes.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
The Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013, makes it relatively easy to alter Presidential term-limits so long as one can muster two-thirds majorities in both Houses of Parliament, but makes it rather more difficult to extend those term-limits in order to benefit an incumbent President. This is not an accident – it was deliberate as we publicly heard on several occasions from the late Dr. Alex Magaisa.
Lenon Itai Rwizi is a Registered Legal Practitioner of the Superior Courts of Zimbabwe and can be contacted on: +263 774 159 146 or +263 713 967 341 lenonrwizi@gmail.com. The above does not constitute formal legal advice, and neither does not create any type of attorney-client relationship. Please seek legal advice from your own by contacting the writer https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057530166769 ) or any attorney of your choice.

Zimbabwe may change the law to let the President stay for a third term. The Constitution says the President can't serve more than two terms. To change this, the law must be amended. The process includes publishing the changes, getting public feedback, and passing the amendment in Parliament with a two-thirds majority. However, the current President cannot benefit from this change. To extend his term, another amendment must pass through the same process and then be approved by a majority in a national referendum. The Constitution makes it hard to extend the term of an incumbent President, and this was done on purpose.

Presidential Term-limit Amendments On The Spot Light: Is It Possible to Amend The Supreme Law On Presidential Term-Limit?

ZANU PF has passed a resolution allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend his term until 2030, but the president has rejected this proposal.
The announcement was made on Saturday by Patrick Chinamasa, the party’s secretary for legal affairs, during the ZANU PF Annual People’s Conference in Bulawayo.
According to the National Constitution, Mnangagwa is limited to a maximum of two terms and cannot run for office again when his current term ends in 2028.
Chinamasa said the party had resolved that Mnangagwa’s term as President and first secretary of ZANU PF should be extended beyond 2028 to 2030.
The resolution also calls for the party and government to initiate necessary amendments to the national Constitution to implement these changes.
However, Chinamasa clarified that Mnangagwa has no intention of serving beyond the constitutional limits, adding that the resolution “will not go anywhere.” He said:
<blockquote>
I understand clearly the motivation behind the resolution. We have scored great achievements in a very short time under the leadership of the president.
I understand the motivation is that these achievements should continue. Our department was being asked the question: ‘Is it legally possible (to extend Mnangagwa’s term)?’
The short answer is that yes it’s legally possible but to achieve it we would need two separate constitutional amendments.
The first amendment would be to remove the presidential term limits, the second amendment would be to remove the disability that the constitution places on the president to serve beyond 2028.
The constitutional bills must be separate, not in one constitutional bill. Each constitutional bill must be followed by a referendum.
</blockquote>
Chinamasa added that he had consulted Mnangagwa three times, and each time, Mnangagwa firmly rejected the idea of extending his presidency.
However, one of Mnangagwa’s staunch supporters, Taurai Kandishaya, ridiculed Chinamasa for claiming at the conference that the president had expressed a desire not to serve beyond 2028. He wrote on Facebook:
<blockquote>
So it happened that I asked my teacher if we were supposed to come for lessons during the holiday, and he looked at me and said NO.
I asked him again the next day, and he said NO. I asked him a third time, and he still said NO. Meanwhile, other students were happy, saying they had extra lessons during the holiday.
Someone then told me, “Young man, your teacher is saying NO because he sees that you don’t really want the lessons. Your question isn’t genuine; it’s just an inquiry. The fact that you’ve asked more than once means you have other motives.”
Moral of the story: Give people the answer they want.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF wanted Mnangagwa to be president until 2030, but he said NO. They wanted to change the law to let him stay longer, but he refused. Some people supported him, but others said he didn't really want to leave. In the end, Mnangagwa didn't agree to the extension, even though his party wanted it.

ZANU PF Passes Resolution For Mnangagwa's Term Extension To 2030

ZANU PF is pushing for constitutional amendments that would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend his term beyond 2028 when his second and final term is set to expire.
The party is currently preparing for its 21st Annual People’s Conference, which will be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds in Bulawayo from October 22 to 27.
It is at this conference that the proposed amendments may be adopted and then presented to Parliament, where ZANU PF holds a significant majority and enjoys the compliance of the opposition CCC faction led by Sengezo Tshabangu.
In the lead-up to the conference, ZANU PF’s Harare Province held its provincial inter-district conference on Sunday.
The purpose of this meeting was to formulate draft resolutions that will be presented to the party leadership at the annual conference in Bulawayo.
According to ZANU PF Harare provincial chairman Godwills Masimirembwa, the most critical resolution that emerged from the provincial inter-district conference was the recommendation that President Mnangagwa should continue to lead the country beyond 2028. Said Masimirembwa:
<blockquote>
The most critical issue which comes is that the Constitution of Zimbabwe must be amended to enable him to continue to lead beyond 2028.
We are aware that there are constitutional limitations; first of all, it says the President serves for a maximum of two terms of five years each.
There is that window of extending the number of years for each term, or tentatively we can remove the term limit from two terms to three terms or scrap the term limit altogether.
</blockquote>
According to Masimirembwa, the ZANU PF Harare inter-district conference also recommended amending another constitutional limitation – the clause that prohibits any constitutional changes from benefiting the incumbent president.
However, lawyer Thabani Mpofu argued that a constitutional amendment would not provide any legitimate benefits to Mnangagwa. He wrote on X:
<blockquote>
The constitutional provision that restricts a president to a maximum of two terms is a term limit provision.
As such, any successful amendment to this provision cannot be applied retroactively to benefit the incumbent.
In simple terms, Mnangagwa is constitutionally ineligible to benefit from an extension of the presidential term limit.
Therefore, any attempt to do so would not only be futile but also a blatant violation of constitutionalism.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa first came into office in 2017 after a military-backed transition that removed long-time ruler Robert Mugabe from power.
Mnangagwa then won the presidential elections in 2018 and 2023, narrowly defeating his main rival, Nelson Chamisa. However, Chamisa has disputed the results of both elections.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF, a political party in Zimbabwe, wants to change the constitution so President Emmerson Mnangagwa can stay in power past 2028. They will discuss this at a conference in October. The party also wants to change the rule that stops constitutional changes from helping the current president. Mnangagwa became president in 2017 and won two elections. The opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, doesn't agree with the results. ZANU PF's Harare Province supports changing the constitution so Mnangagwa can continue as president after 2028.

ZANU PF Pushes For Constitutional Changes To Scrap Presidential Term Limits

The ZANU PF party in Mashonaland East Province has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in office beyond 2028, despite his recent announcement that he will retire at the end of his current and final five-year term.
During a provincial inter-district conference held in Goromonzi on Sunday, senior ZANU PF officials claimed that all the districts in Mashonaland East had expressed their desire for Mnangagwa to remain in power.
Addressing the meeting, ZANU PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Daniel Garwe said the province wants Mnangagwa to continue serving as president due to the infrastructure developments he has implemented since 2018.
Garwe requested that Munyaradzi Machacha, the ZANU PF national Political Commissar who officiated the meeting, convey this message from Mashonaland East to President Mnangagwa.
The provincial party’s call for Mnangagwa to stay in office beyond his announced retirement date contradicts the president’s earlier statement and raises questions about the potential for an extension of his term or a third run for the presidency. Said Garwe (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/mash-east-calls-on-president-to-stay/">The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
After seeing the positive results in terms of developments that are being done across the whole province, we agreed as a province that President Mnangagwa should stay.
Each district is being developed, from Nyamapanda to Chikomba, there is development. Yes, President Mnangagwa said in Mutare that he will rest after his second term, but we are now appealing to him; we are persuading him to stay beyond 2028.
We are sending you Cde Machacha to our President; please tell him that your children in Mashonaland East province are asking you to stay in office beyond 2028.
Tell him that we want him to be with us till 2030, as the First Secretary for ZANU PF, as the President of our party and as the President of Zimbabwe.
We believe in our God and we will always pray to Him. We have faith in our God and also our President.
We love our President. His leadership capabilities are outstanding; hence we call for his stay. So PC (political commissar) please take our request to the President and kindly come back with the response.
</blockquote>
In response to the request from Garwe, the party’s national Political Commissar, Munyaradzi Machacha, promised to convey their message to Mnangagwa. He said:
<blockquote>
I will carry the message and deliver it without adding or subtracting anything. I promise you that. There is always joy when a leader is being recognised for his good deeds.
You know it is hard to lead but when the people you lead plead for you to continue leading them, it brings joy.
</blockquote>
According to political analyst Brighton Mutebuka, there is a looming “final showdown” brewing between Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga over the control of the ruling ZANU PF party and the Zimbabwean government.
The speculation around a potential power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga has been a subject of much debate within Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
Chiwenga, who was the army commander when the military intervened to force former President Robert Mugabe’s resignation in 2017, reportedly had a pact with Mnangagwa that the latter would hand over power to him when his term(s) came to an end.
This perceived arrangement between the two top ZANU PF leaders has fueled speculation about an impending power struggle, as Mnangagwa nears the end of his current and final five-year term, while Chiwenga may be positioning himself to succeed him.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The ZANU PF party in Mashonaland East Province wants President Mnangagwa to stay in office past 2028, despite his plan to retire. They like the developments he's made in the province. The party's national Political Commissar promised to deliver the message to Mnangagwa. There might be a power struggle between Mnangagwa and Vice President Chiwenga over who will lead the party and the government. Chiwenga, who was involved in ousting Mugabe, may want to become president. People are watching to see what will happen next in Zimbabwe's politics.

ZANU PF Mash East Calls On Mnangagwa To Remain In Office

The Heads of Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe (ZHOCD) have welcomed the recent statement made by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, affirming his commitment to uphold the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
ZHOCD is an umbrella body that comprises prominent Christian organizations, including the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Union for Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA), the Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference (ZCBC), and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC).
In his address at the commissioning of the Mutare Teachers College’s fruit juice and water processing plant on July 4, 2024, President Mnangagwa pledged not to seek a third term in office, thereby reaffirming his respect for the constitutional mandate that limits the presidential term to two terms.
In a statement, ZHOCD praised President Mnangagwa’s public commitment, saying by refusing to extend his presidency beyond the legal limits, he has taken a significant step towards reinforcing democratic norms and promoting national unity in Zimbabwe. It said:
<blockquote>
Therefore, the Church calls upon all Zimbabweans to honour the President’s decision and to support him in the completion of his constitutional term. It also calls upon all Zimbabweans to embrace a spirit of peaceful and transparent leadership renewal. It is imperative that the process remains free from intimidation, violence, and manipulation to ensure national stability and the consolidation of our democracy.
</blockquote>
Despite Mnangagwa’s public commitment to respect the constitutional two-term limit, some ZANU PF structures have since called for the President to continue in office beyond his current term, which is set to end in 2028.
However, even if there were to be a constitutional amendment to remove the term limits, the incumbent president would not be able to benefit from such a change.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Churches in Zimbabwe are happy that the President said he won't try to be president for a third time. They think it's important to follow the rules and have peaceful leadership changes. The President's term is supposed to end in 2028, and even if they change the rules, he can't stay in power. The Churches want everyone to support the President and have a fair and peaceful process for choosing the next leader. They think it's important for the country to stay stable and democratic.

Churches Welcome ED's Pledge Not To Seek A Third Term

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has subtly hinted that he will not seek another presidential term when his current and second term ends in 2028, reported <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mnangagwa-drops-retirement-hint-as-zanu-pf-hardliners-push-for-third-presidential-term/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>.
This comes as some of Mnangagwa supporters in ZANU PF have reportedly been pushing for an amendment of the Constitution to remove the two-term limit for him to run for a third term.
Speaking in vernacular Shona at the groundbreaking ceremony of a new cricket stadium in Victoria Falls this week, Mnangagwa said:
<blockquote>
Pandanga ndichiona kuti panapa, mumusoro mangu, pachanaka pachavakwa zvakawanda ndikafunga kuti zvandakuno retire chii chandingaitewo panapa. Ndikaona kuti pachava nema butchery saka ndicha feeder mombe dzangu ndichizotengesa mombe ndichiwana mari (When I looked around, I realised that several businesses will be established here such as butcheries. So, I thought that since I am about to retire, I will venture into livestock farming and sell the cattle here and make money.)
</blockquote>
ZANU PF attained a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly following several by-elections that were held after the August 2023 general elections.
Some ZANU PF activists have reportedly been pushing for the party to use its two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament to amend the Constitution to extend Mnangagwa’s rule.
However, presidential spokesperson George Charamba, recently <a href="https://x.com/dhonzamusoro007/status/1793152028413137124">dismissed the claims</a>, saying the Constitution is clear about the term limits.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mnangagwa Hints At Retirement Amid Third Presidential Term Speculation

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has refuted claims that he plans to seek a third term, emphasizing his respect for the Constitution.
According to the Constitution, the president is limited to serving a maximum of two terms, provided each of those terms lasts three or more years.
A presidential term is five years, and after completing two consecutive terms, a president becomes ineligible to seek re-election.
During an exclusive interview with editors Munyaradzi Huni and Baffour Ankomah of “Brick by Brick” magazine, Mnangagwa clarified that allegations of his intention to run for a third term are unfounded. He said:
<blockquote>
Well, I am very happy that Zimbabweans are very imaginative.
They can imagine about anything, which shows there is democracy in the country, you see.
But we in ZANU PF are very democratic and we obey the Constitution.
There is not an iota of evidence where ZANU PF or I, as President, has ever expressed the violation of our Constitution.
But we allow people to dream properly or widely.
They will still wake up and find things are working and the Constitution hasn’t changed.
</blockquote>
The National Constitution stipulates that extending presidential term limits would require amending Section 91 of the supreme law, which disqualifies a person “for election as President or appointment as Vice President if he or she has already held office as President for two terms, whether continuous or not, and for the purpose of this subsection three or more years’ service is deemed to be a full term”.
The Bill containing the amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
Section 328 (7) does not allow an incumbent to extend the period he may hold office. It reads:
<blockquote>
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an amendment to a term-limit provision the effect of which is to extend the length of time that a person may hold or occupy any public office, does not apply in relation to any person who held or occupied that office, or an equivalent office, at any time before the amendment.
</blockquote>
Therefore, amending Section 91 to extend presidential term limits will apply only to future Heads of State.
Section 328 (7) can only be amended through a referendum, as set out under Section 328 (9) of the Constitution.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

I Have No Presidential Third Term Ambitions - Mnangagwa

ZANU PF is reportedly contemplating Constitutional Amendments that would, among other changes, eliminate the direct election of the President and instead adopt a system where Parliament elects the President, similar to South Africa’s approach.
In South Africa, during a general election, voters choose a political party rather than an individual candidate.
All votes from across the nation are tallied up, and each party’s share of the vote determines the number of seats they get in the National Assembly.
Parties then fill these seats with members based on their list of candidates submitted before the election.
The President is chosen from among the members of the National Assembly based on the party’s share of seats. Once elected, the President is no longer a member of the National Assembly.
Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono reported that a senior government official informed him that the ZANU PF-led government is contemplating replacing the first-past-the-post system with a proportional representation approach for electing the President. Said Chin’ono:
<blockquote>
The proposed constitutional changes to the electoral law, under the pretext of including opposition suggestions from the last parliament, are a precursor for the massive changes that ZANU-PF wants to implement.
A very senior government official has told me that the ZANU PF government is considering a constitutional amendment to remove the direct election of a president, opting instead for the South African system where parliament will elect the president.
This means the party with the most number of MPs gets to take the presidency.
</blockquote>
Chin’ono said ZANU PF intends to introduce constitutional changes because it has recognized that its presidential candidates faced challenges against the opposition in the past six elections. These changes aim to thwart the “Bhora Musango” strategy. He wrote on X:
<blockquote>
This move is clearly driven by the realisation that ZANU PF presidential candidates have struggled in the last six elections, while their MPs have performed much better than them.
Who will defend the current constitutional arrangements, and how will they do it?
The opposition parliamentary candidates have struggled in the last three elections, while the opposition presidential candidate has been more popular than the parliamentary candidates.
A similar change has happened in Togo, where the dictator changed the constitution from a direct presidential election to one where the members of parliament elect the president.
The senior government official said this change will remove the Bhora Musango phenomenon, where ZANU PF parliamentary candidates focus on their reelection and let the president work for his own victory.
</blockquote>
This comes as Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi recently told State media that the government is considering constitutional changes that would include the transfer of voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department.
Ziyambi said the proposed amendments stem from recommendations made by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators in the Ninth Parliament ahead of the 2023 general elections.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"ZANU PF Considering Electoral Reforms To Remove Direct Election Of The President"

A faction within the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has openly criticized ZANU PF members who are allegedly advocating for an amendment to the Constitution to eliminate the presidential term limit.
According to The Standard, on Friday, March 15, police prevented the ZNLWVA from holding a meeting in Bulawayo. The suspicion was that the conveners were perceived as party spoilers.
The meeting was organized by the ZNLWVA, led by Andrease Mathibela. The war veterans’ welfare organisation is closely affiliated with ZANU PF.
Within ZANU PF circles, Mathibela’s leadership is seen as a resistance movement against the broader political plans of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his faction.
After the ZNLWVA meeting was banned, Mathibela held a press conference in Bulawayo. During this conference, he issued a warning to those advocating for what he termed “dynastic rule” in Zimbabwe. He said:
<blockquote>
On March 16 and 17, 2013, Zimbabweans en masse voted for a new constitution following the referendum which had a turnout of 95.5% of the electorate.
Unanimous in this constitutional resolve was the irreversibility of the land reform programme and the rationality of the presidential term limit to two five year terms.
…Yet today, we have seen the unceremonious abandonment of the indigenisation laws, which sought to reverse years of colonial injustice and domination by protecting Zimbabwean nationals from future subtle re-colonisation practices and dispossession of our rightful heritage by new colonial masters.
Equally, we have witnessed gross mischief by a few sloganeering misfits, who seek to test the waters by conditioning the population to accept the setting aside of our sacred constitutional provisions, thereby attempting to usher in an open ended dynastic rule for Zimbabwe. “Let them be warned.
</blockquote>
Matibela also criticized the police for disrupting their planned meeting.
Reports indicate that within ZANU PF, there is growing support for Mnangagwa’s bid for a third term but the move faces legal hurdles due to constitutional restrictions.
Section 91 of the constitution outlines qualifications for presidential candidates. It explicitly states that an individual is disqualified if they have already held the office of President for two terms, regardless of whether those terms were continuous or not.
Section 328 (7) of the constitution further restricts incumbents from benefiting from any constitutional amendment that extends the length of time in office.
In other words, even if ZANU PF manages to amend the constitution, Mnangagwa, as the incumbent, would not benefit from such an extension.
The legal precedent set by the case of Mupungu v Minister of Justice and others (CCZ07/21) sheds light on this matter.
In that case, the court ruled that prescribed term limits cannot be extended to apply to sitting incumbents without contravening section 328 (8) of the constitution.
Therefore, any amendment allowing third terms would not apply to Mnangagwa during his current tenure.
Mnangagwa controversially won the presidential elections in 2018, serving his first term until 2023. He is currently in his second term, which is set to expire in 2028.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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