By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Zimbabwe’s ruling party, the ZANU-PF is considering a constitutional amendment that will extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term by two years, a move the opposition says is unconstitutional.
The proposal, adopted at a party conference on Saturday, would prolong Mnangagwa’s tenure to 2030, as against 2028 when his current five-year term was supposed to come to an end.
The resolution comes amid a succession battle within ZANU-PF, where Mnangagwa’s main internal rival, former army general Constantino Chiwenga, has been accused of treasonous acts.
“The party and government are therefore directed to initiate the requisite legislative amendments to give full effect to this resolution to ensure continuity, stability and the sustained transformation of the nation,” Ziyambi Ziyambi, ZANU-PF secretary for legal affairs and Minister of Justice, told delegates.
In reaction to the development, a leader in opposition movement, Jameson Timba said the southern African country should not be governed by conference resolutions or partisan directives.
“We are a constitutional democracy and the supremacy of the Constitution must remain non-negotiable,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Timba called for formal clarification from the speaker of parliament and the minister of justice, and urged “civic vigilance and peaceful defence” of constitutionalism.
Mnangagwa, 83, who has previously said he is not interested in clinging to power, came to office in a 2017 military coup that ousted long-term leader, Robert Mugabe.
The constitution requires him to step down in 2028 after serving two five-year terms.
ZANU-PF has ruled ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980 and holds a commanding majority in parliament as the government tries to rebuild a weak economy and reduce crippling debt obligations.
“It is going to be the biggest challenge to the democratic forces in the nation on how we are going to respond to this huge provocation by a political party whose modus of operation has always been predatory,” Reuters quoted Job Sikhala, facilitator of the National Democratic Working Group, an advocacy body as saying.
