By A Correspondent
Zanu PF has taken its controversial resolution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028 a step further, with party officials asserting that there is no need for a referendum to amend the Constitution. This comes after the party raised the issue at its Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo last October, where it was decided that the constitutional changes required to extend Mnangagwa’s rule would be implemented through Parliament.
At a Mashonaland Central Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting on Saturday, Zanu PF National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha announced that the resolution is now in the implementation phase. “At a party policy meeting last Monday, we agreed to allow the Parliament of Zimbabwe to implement Resolution Number One as presented at the conference. There is no going back in implementing the resolution,” Machacha declared.
The Zanu PF proposal seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency by postponing the upcoming national elections to 2030 via a Constitutional Amendment, bypassing the need for a national referendum. This would allow the current president to remain in office for a further term, despite the fact that the Constitution stipulates a maximum of two terms for any president.
Machacha, speaking firmly in support of the resolution, stressed that those opposed to the idea should have voiced their concerns during the party’s conference or through provincial and district coordinating committee meetings. “Those who are against the resolution had their chance to raise their objections at the conference or at the relevant meetings. Now, we are moving forward with the implementation,” he added.
This decision has sparked widespread concern among opposition groups and civil society, who view the move as an attempt to violate the Constitution and further entrench Zanu PF’s hold on power. Critics argue that by circumventing a referendum, the party is undermining the democratic process and disregarding the will of the people.
As the Zanu PF leadership pushes ahead with the constitutional amendment process, the question of whether this move will be met with significant opposition or legal challenges remains to be seen. For now, it is clear that the ruling party is determined to ensure that Mnangagwa stays in power beyond the 2028 term limit.