By Wezhira Munya
On the 21st of February 2024, Zanu PF youth members from all provinces in Zimbabwe gathered at the Mushagashe Training Centre, in Masvingo to commemorate the birthday of former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
Before the event at one Zanu-PF meeting that was organized to prepare for Youth day, an unidentified Zanu PF youth from “Masvingo province” made a slogan proclaiming that “President Mnangagwa will be there in 2030.”
A video of this youth member declaring Mnangagwa’s presidency in 2030 went viral on the internet, sparking speculation about whether this slogan implied Mnangagwa’s intention to seek a third term or simply referred to his longevity.
At the age of 81, Mnangagwa is currently serving his second and final presidential term after winning disputed harmonized elections in August 2023. However, there is a pro-Mnangagwa faction within Zanu PF led by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Masvingo Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Mr. Robson Mavhenyengwa, and Zanu PF Bikita South member of parliament who are advocating for his third term.
During the event at Mushagashe Training Centre, Mr. Robson Mavhenyengwa, the Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial chairman and senator, was the first to declare that President Mnangagwa would still be in power in 2030. This statement was met with dissapointment by majority of Zimbabweans.
Its not suprising that president Mnangangwa’s quest for third term office has been announced in Masvingo, this province [Masvingo] is pro-Mnangagwa as per Zanu PF factional fights.
But majority of Zimbabweans and pro-Chiwenga faction argued that, the third time for president , is disastrous as they are currently experiencing poverty, high employment, high cost of tertiary, primary and secondary education, expensive health costs among others.
Zanu PF’s third vice president, Kembo Mohadi, also expressed support for Mnangagwa’s extended presidency during his introduction and welcome speech. He chanted the slogan “2030 vaMnangagwa will be there” and praised it as a thrilling new slogan.
In addition to these endorsements, vocal Zanu PF Bikita South member of parliament and Rhumba musician, Energy Mutodi, wrote on his X space (formerly Twitter), stating that “Zanu PF Masvingo province today offered President ED Mnangagwa a third term in office as president of Zimbabwe.”
While the slogan suggests Mnangagwa’s intention to remain president in 2030, many Zimbabweans interpret it as a desire from the pro-Mnangagwa faction within Zanu PF to see him continue as president beyond his second term.
In response to the slogan, President Mnangagwa addressed the audience at Mushagashe Training Centre, stating, “Those saying Mnangagwa will be there in 2030, was there any suggestion that I won’t be there? Only one person knows when I’m going, and that’s Jehovah.”
It is worth noting that in a 2018 interview with CNN, shortly after assuming power, Mnangagwa stated his commitment to respect the constitution and serve only two terms, acknowledging that the maximum term limit for any president is two terms.
According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, extending the presidential term to a third term requires a constitutional amendment. This amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Additionally, if the amendment affects the Declaration of Rights or Chapter 16 (related to agricultural land), it must also be approved in a national referendum.
Section 91(2) of the Constitution, which imposes term limits on the presidency, can be amended by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. However, Section 328(7) states that any amendment to a term-limit provision that extends the length of time a person can hold a public office, such as the presidency, does not apply to anyone who held that office before the amendment. This means that even if the constitutional amendment were to pass, President Mnangagwa would not be eligible for a third term.
To repeal Section 328(7) and allow Mnangagwa to stand for a third term, a national referendum, in addition to a two-thirds majority in Parliament, would be required.
Zanu PF currently holds a two-thirds majority in Parliament after Citizens Coalition for Change fake Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu working in collaboration with vice president Tendai Biti and vice president Professor Welshman Ncube recalled opposition parliamentarians and failed to field candidates and this led Zanu-PF to win by-elections to get two-thirds majority.
However, Zanu PF would still need the support of a few opposition members in the Senate to achieve the required two-thirds majority votes for a constitutional amendment. This is possible because Tshabangu has nominated himself and his CCC faction members into Senate. Tshabangu and his Senators will vote with Zanu PF for president Mnangangwa to get two-thirds in Senate.
However, Citizens also have the power to reject a constitutional amendment through a public referendum, as they did in 2000 when Zanu PF’s proposed changes were voted against.
As the debate over Mnangagwa’s potential third term continues, the ultimate decision rests with the Zimbabwean people and the constitutional processes in place to determine any amendments to presidential term limits.
