Staff Reporter
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister,Ziyambi Ziyambi, has confirmed the Government’s readiness to implement constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028, should formal instructions be issued. The proposal aligns with a resolution made at Zanu PFAnnual National People’s Conference in 2024.
Minister Ziyambi emphasized that the decision would reflect the will of the people, as Zimbabwe’s democracy is guided by public consensus.
“My comment is that it is possible to make the amendments when the time is right, and when we get the instructions to do so. If the people express their desire for the President’s term to be extended, it is within the framework of democracy to act on that wish,” said Minister Ziyambi.
Minister Ziyambi noted that, while, President Mnangagwa had previously expressed his intent to step down after completing his constitutional terms, his supporters believe he should remain in office to ensure the continuation of key development projects initiated under his leadership.
“Once the people who voted him into office have spoken, the necessary legal requirements will be put in place. It is possible to enact the amendments,” he said.
During the 2024 Zanu PF conference in Bulawayo, party members resolved that extending the President’s term would allow him to oversee the completion of various transformative initiatives that have improved the country’s socio-economic landscape.
Interestingly, the proposal has also received backing from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), an opposition party. During a tour of the First Family’s Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe, CCC leader in Parliament, Sengezo Tshabangu, expressed support for President Mnangagwa’s leadership.
“If we approve your stay in power and the people of Zimbabwe are happy, let it be,” Tshabangu said.
He commended the President for leading by example and emphasized the need for unity among Zimbabweans.
“We are Zimbabweans, we should be singing together, playing together, celebrating together. When I walk out of here, I will face criticism, but it does not matter because it makes us better as a nation,” he added.
Zanu PF structures nationwide have rallied behind the proposal, highlighting President Mnangagwa’s tangible achievements in infrastructure, agriculture, and economic development.
The potential extension of the President’s term would require amendments to Zimbabwe’s Constitution, a process that could shape the country’s political and economic trajectory.
