HARARE – A leaked cabinet memorandum has revealed that Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, has proposed significant amendments to the country’s constitution to allow the suspension of 2028 elections, effectively extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office until 2031.
The proposals, which are to be presented to the Cabinet for approval, have raised concerns about potential democratic backsliding.
The memorandum outlines plans to extend the terms of office for the President, Vice President, Parliament, and local councils by up to three years, subject to a two-thirds vote in Parliament.
This effectively proposes the postponement of scheduled elections. Specifically, the document proposes amending Section 95(2) of the constitution.
Reads part of the memo: “The proposed amendments aim to:
“Extend the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Council terms of office for a period not exceeding three years, only once through a two-third parliamentary vote to enhance governance stability, align electoral cycles, and foster continuity in the implementation of long-term national development policies. The amendment will effectively postpone elections for a three-year period.”
Additionally, the proposals seek to transfer voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar of Births and Deaths, and to establish a new Zimbabwe Delimitation Commission (ZDC) to handle constituency delimitation, removing this function from ZEC. This would involve amending several sections of the constitution, including Sections 160, 161, 328, and others.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a prominent Zimbabwean investigative journalist argues that this move will undermine Zimbabwe’s electoral processes
“Stripping ZEC of its voter registration mandate undermines the independence and integrity of the electoral process in Zimbabwe,” Chin’ono stated.
The memorandum also suggests repealing Section 328(7) of the constitution, which currently prohibits amendments to term-limit provisions from retroactively extending the tenure of incumbents.
This change would allow the proposed term extensions to apply to current officeholders, subject to public approval in a referendum.
Specifically, this will allow Mnangagwa to benefit from the constitutional amendment. Interestingly, he will be 92 years old in 2031.
The document also includes draft bill language that would amend Section 143 and Section 158 of the constitution.
Critics have expressed concern that the changes could undermine democratic principles and potentially prolong the tenure of current officials.
The proposed amendments will require a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament and approval through a national referendum, in accordance with Section 328 of the Zimbabwean constitution. The process also requires public consultation.
This comes at a time when a faction within Zanu-PF is reportedly pushing for Mnangagwa’s impeachment.
The draft impeachment motion that leaked a few weeks ago cited concerns about the president’s “lack of mental capacity” and allegations of widespread corruption, economic mismanagement, fraudulent financial practices, and involvement in corrupt deals.
Adding to the controversy, Parliament was abruptly adjourned until May 6, 2025, fueling speculation about government efforts to suppress the impeachment motion.
The absence of key parliamentary figures, including the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Senate, who were reportedly abroad, further heightened these suspicions.
Meanwhile, government land allocations to Members of Parliament, intended to secure legislative loyalty against a potential Mnangagwa impeachment and term extension, sparked controversy two weeks prior.
At the Mabelreign District Office in Mashonaland West, numerous Members of Parliament were seen during the distribution of these land parcels.
Mnangagwa’s alleged plan to extend his term of office has resulted in a massive succession fight between him and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, who is regarded as the frontrunner in the race to replace the current Zanu-PF leader.
Two camps now exist within Zanu-PF. One is in favour of Mnangagwa’s continued rule. This faction is supported by controversial business people who seemingly benefitted massively during Mnangagwa’s tenure.
The other one is linked to Chiwenga. This one is reportedly backed by the military and disgruntled war veterans like Blessed Geza, a fugitive former Zanu-PF Central Committee member, who has been calling for a revolt to force Mnangagwa to step down.
