A draft constitutional amendment bill, designed to allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond his second and final term ending in 2028, has been finalised and is now set for deliberation by the Cabinet, government officials confirmed.
The bill, which seeks to legally align the national constitution with the ruling ZANU-PF party’s “Vision 2030” economic agenda, is scheduled for presentation to Parliament at the end of February following Cabinet discussions.
Attorney General Virginia Mabiza confirmed the completion of the legislative draft, stating,
“The draft Bill extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond 2028 has been completed and is now awaiting tabling before Cabinet and Parliament.”
She further asserted there are “no legal limitations for the implementation of the process.”
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi is responsible for presenting the bill through the required legislative channels.
The proposed amendment represents a pivotal shift for Zimbabwe’s political framework, challenging the presidential term limits established in the 2013 constitution.
Senior ZANU-PF officials have publicly championed the amendment as an economic imperative.
Central committee member Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei cited the administration’s economic record—including a national wheat harvest of 640,000 metric tonnes, tobacco deliveries of 153 million kg, and over 70,000 km of roads built or rehabilitated—as justification for maintaining current leadership.
“To disrupt this positive momentum now, at this critical juncture, would be to jeopardise the prosperity of all Zimbabweans,” Tagwirei argued.
“Amending our Constitution… is not just a political matter; it is an economic imperative for our nation.”
This position was formally endorsed at ZANU-PF’s National People’s Conference last year and is supported by provincial party structures nationwide.
Proponents also point to last year’s USD 16.2 billion in export receipts as further evidence of progress requiring continuity.
With ZANU-PF holding a parliamentary majority, the bill’s passage is likely but will face intense scrutiny from opposition groups and civil society, who are expected to challenge it on democratic grounds.
The legislative process for this consequential amendment begins imminently, setting the stage for a defining national debate in the coming weeks.
