President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly departed Zimbabwe late on Wednesday for an unannounced visit to Belarus in an unusually discreet manner that avoided the normal public send-off associated with presidential travel.
The 83-year-old leader is said to have left the country without the customary airport ceremony involving ministers, military officials and police motorcades.
His absence became more noticeable on Thursday evening when Vice President Kembo Mohadi attended a farewell dinner for outgoing Chief Justice Luke Malaba on Mnangagwa’s behalf.
Government spokesperson Ndavaningi Mangwana confirmed at the event that Mohadi was representing the president.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga also attended the gathering and delivered remarks during the ceremony.
Officials have not publicly explained the purpose of Mnangagwa’s trip, and presidential spokesperson George Charamba had reportedly not responded to media inquiries regarding the visit.
However, a senior government source cited by ZimLive claimed the president has previously made similar low-profile trips to Belarus, often travelling late at night and returning quietly after several days.
Mnangagwa maintains close relations with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, with the two governments strengthening political and economic ties in recent years.
The unexplained trip comes at a politically sensitive moment as Zimbabwe’s Parliament prepares to debate the controversial Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill.
The proposed amendments would reportedly extend Mnangagwa’s current and constitutionally final term from 2028 to 2030 while also lengthening Parliament’s term by two years.
The proposals additionally seek to remove direct presidential elections, replacing them with a parliamentary voting system for selecting the head of state.
Critics, opposition figures and constitutional experts have argued that such changes would require a national referendum and could not legally benefit an incumbent president.
The government has rejected those arguments and appears determined to proceed with the legislation despite growing political resistance.
The proposed amendments have reportedly intensified divisions within ZANU-PF, with reports suggesting Chiwenga strongly opposes the proposals.
This week, Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops also warned that the amendments risk undermining constitutional democracy and weakening institutional safeguards against abuse of power.
In a strongly worded statement, the bishops said the proposals could erode democratic participation, weaken institutional independence and concentrate excessive authority within the executive branch.
Mnangagwa has not publicly commented on either the Belarus trip or the criticism surrounding the constitutional changes.
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