HARARE, Jan 14 – Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party has proposed extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term in office by two years, potentially keeping him in power until 2030. Party spokesperson Farai Marapira confirmed the decision on Tuesday but did not provide details on how it would be implemented or if constitutional amendments would be required.
Zimbabwe’s constitution restricts the presidency to two five-year terms, with Mnangagwa’s second and final term set to expire in 2028. Asked whether the proposal would involve extending the presidential term length, Marapira said, “The modalities have not been decided.”
Mnangagwa, 82, publicly stated he would step down at the end of his term, but discussions about removing term limits surfaced during a Zanu-PF conference last October.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such a change. Constitutional lawyer Welshman Ncube stated that any amendment would require two referendums: one to remove term limits and another to allow an incumbent to benefit from the change. Another constitutional expert, Lovemore Madhuku, emphasized that it would be impossible for Mnangagwa to legally extend his presidency beyond 2028 without significant legal reforms.
Zimbabwe’s political history includes similar debates over presidential term limits. In 2013, then-President Robert Mugabe signed a new constitution capping the presidency at two terms. However, this was not applied retroactively, and Mugabe could have remained in power until 2027 if not for a 2017 coup.
