I will not go beyond 2028: President

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has underlined that he is a constitutionalist, and will not extend his term of office beyond 2028, although the ruling party’s 10 provinces had proposed he extends his term to 2030.

This announcement was made during the 21st Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo yesterday where the President emphasized his commitment to the country’s Constitution that he helped draft.

Presenting resolutions during the closing session of the conference, Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the President, after meeting him on three occasion on the issue, had confided in him that he had no wish to extend his mandate beyond the constitutional provisions.

“His Excellency’s hand was involved in the drafting of the current Constitution. He is a constitutionalist and has made it clear that he will abide by the Constitution, which limits Presidential terms. He has no intention of serving beyond 2028,” Cde Chinamasa stated.

He noted that the topic of an extended term had been discussed multiple times since August 2024, and the President has remained consistent throughout these discussions.

All provinces had voted in favour of extending President Mnangagwa’s term as President of Zimbabwe and First Secretary of Zanu-PF until 2030.

However, Cde Chinamasa stressed that any move to extend the term would require significant constitutional amendments.

To effect this change, Cde Chinamasa explained, two separate amendments would be necessary: One to remove the fixed presidential term from the Constitution and another to eliminate the restrictions preventing President Mnangagwa from serving beyond 2028.
Each amendment would require its own referendum for approval.

Throughout his consultations with the President, Cde Chinamasa said he sought clarity on this matter.

He said: “I was not satisfied with the initial responses, but after repeated discussions, the President remained resolute in his position. He is committed to adhering to the Constitution and will not seek an extension beyond 2028.”

Cde Chinamasa added that the President was clear that the people should know that he had been consulted on the resolution and tendered his honest response to it.

“I was granted a meeting in August where I raised the issue to find out what his position was. I was given an answer. I was not satisfied. I asked again for a meeting in mid-September again to seek an answer. I was given the same answer that I was given in August. But just to be sure whether I was in the right direction, I called and asked for another meeting which His Excellency granted me which was on Tuesday and this time I had a witness, I was not alone fortunately. I was given the same answer that I was given in August, September and Tuesday. Just before I took to the podium, I whispered in the ear of the President ‘is what you told me on the three meetings still standing’ and he was emphatic, it still stands,” said Cde Chinamasa.

He told the conference the President has always been resolute in his response regarding extending his term.

“I must say each time I went to ask him, I got the impression that he was angry with me for raising issues where he made pronouncements locally, and while he was in the People’s Republic of China. Given my position I should always heed what the leadership says but I wanted to get it from the horse’s mouth.

“I want to repeat what he said on Tuesday. He said he is a constitutionalist and for certain, he is one and furthermore, His Excellency’s hand was involved in the drafting of the current Constitution,” he said.

“We must understand that coming from here it will not go anywhere, His Excellency is emphatic that when 2028 comes he will not serve beyond that date. He had a hand in the drafting and crafting of the Constitution and cannot be seen globally as the first to violate what he put in place.”

Cde Chinamasa also acknowledged the impressive achievements under President Mnangagwa’s leadership in a short space of time, which motivated the party’s desire for an extension of his term beyond 2028.

He reiterated that without the President’s consent, the resolution to extend his term could not be implemented.

In addition to the discussions on presidential term limits, other resolutions were passed at the conference, including the establishment of a proactive Conflict Resolution Committee within the party, a push for the digitalisation of party voter rolls, and the declaration of 1 July as a public holiday in honour of the late Vice- President, Cde Dr Joshua Nyongolo Mqabuko Nkomo.

Further to that Cde Chinamasa emphasised the importance of implementing the 50-50 gender equality policy to enhance women’s access to positions of authority within the party and Government.