Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, has resolved to push for a constitutional amendment that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term in office by two years from 2028 to 2030. The controversial proposal, adopted at the party’s annual conference on Saturday, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures who call it an attack on democracy.
Ziyambi Ziyambi, the party’s secretary for legal affairs and Minister of Justice, announced the decision, stating that the amendment was meant to ensure “continuity, stability, and the sustained transformation of the nation.” Mnangagwa, now 83, is currently serving his second and final five-year term under Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution.
The move has reignited political tensions within ZANU-PF, particularly amid reports of a growing power struggle between Mnangagwa and his deputy, former army general Constantino Chiwenga. Chiwenga, who helped orchestrate the 2017 coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe and brought Mnangagwa to power, has recently faced accusations of “treasonous acts” from within the ruling establishment.
Opposition leaders have condemned the proposal, arguing it violates Zimbabwe’s constitutional limits on presidential tenure. “We are a constitutional democracy, and the supremacy of the Constitution must remain non-negotiable,” said veteran opposition politician Jameson Timba. He urged Parliament and the Ministry of Justice to clarify the legality of the resolution, calling for “civic vigilance and peaceful defence of constitutionalism.”
Job Sikhala, facilitator of the National Democratic Working Group, described the move as a “huge provocation” to democratic forces, warning that it tests the country’s commitment to constitutional governance.
ZANU-PF, which has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, maintains a dominant majority in Parliament giving it the power to push through constitutional amendments. If successful, the proposed extension could allow Mnangagwa to stay in power until 2030, despite earlier statements that he had no intention of clinging to office.
