- Zimbabwe's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, rejects proposal to extend his term beyond 2028.
- The proposal to extend his term was put forward during the Zanu PF Annual People's Conference in Bulawayo.
- He succeeded the controversial president Robert Mugabe who had ruled for 40 years and is strongly opposed to ruling past 10 years.
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The idea of ruling in perpetuity has been rampant in Africa’s democratic history. While some countries have been exemplary in upholding constitutional terms, others still linger in the prospect of consolidating power for as long as possible. Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has noted that he would not be a part of this group.
The recent Zanu PF Annual People's Conference in Bulawayo took a dramatic turn when party members supported a resolution urging President Emmerson Mnangagwa to continue leading the party and the country beyond his legally allotted two mandates, which expire in 2028.
Through the implementation of Vision 2030, a framework for changing Zimbabwe's socio economic environment, this resolution seeks to enable the President to finish existing development activities.
“This resolution appears in all the thematic committees and this is the resolution: that the President and first secretary of Zanu PF, His Excellency, Cde Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and first secretary of Zanu PF be extended beyond 2028 to 2030,” said Patrick Chinamasa, the party’s secretary for legal affairs,
“That the party and government set in motion the necessary amendments to the national Constitution so as to give effect to these resolutions,” Chinamasa added.
However, the 82-year-old President refused the offer, reaffirming his commitment to the two-term limit set in Zimbabwe's constitution, as seen in New Zimbabwe.
“His Excellency is saying l am a constitutionalist, and l have no intention of serving beyond 2028.
This may come as sad news to you, but please don’t stone the message. Where we stand, distinguished guests, of all resolutions, there is one resolution which cannot be implemented without the express consent and agreement of His Excellency, President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” explained Chinamasa.
“He is very emphatic that he had a hand in drafting and crafting of this Constitution and cannot be seen nationally and globally violating what he put in place,” he added.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sentiments
Born in 1942, the 82 year old president of Zimbabwe, began ruling the country in 2017. He succeeded the controversial president Robert Mugabe who had ruled for 40 years, unwilling to leave the seat.
The late Robert Mugabe was eventually removed from power with help from the army. Perhaps this is the reason why the president Emmerson Mnangagwa is strongly opposed to ruling past 10 years.
In 2023, he defeated Nelson Chamisa to win a second term. He received 52.6 percent of the votes, compared to Nelson's 44 percent.
Zimbabwe has a presidential term limit of 5 years.
"Besides being a soldier, trained lawyer, I am a constitutionalist. I want our party, our leadership, our people to be constitutionalists. We must abide by the provisions of our constitution to the letter,” the president had said back in August.
“When time comes to go home, I will go! Let’s follow the principles of the party.”
