from NQOBANI MATHIBELA in Gwanda, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
GWANDA, (CAJ News) – ZIMBABWE is facing an escalating constitutional crisis amid growing allegations that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking to extend his rule beyond the constitutionally mandated two-term limit that expires in 2028.
Critics say the move—widely discussed within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) would rely on a captured cabinet and a polarised parliament to amend the constitution and prolong Mnangagwa’s tenure to 2030, in blatant violation of democratic norms.
Opposition parties, constitutional lawyers and civil society organisations warn that such a move would confirm fears that Mnangagwa is consolidating authoritarian power.
They argue that international partners, including the United States, must be alerted to what they describe as a systematic dismantling of constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.
At the centre of the debate is a clear constitutional barrier.
Renowned constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku has emphatically stated that neither parliament nor cabinet has the authority to extend a presidential term without the explicit consent of the people through a national referendum.
“It is impossible for parliament or cabinet to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure on their own,” Madhuku recently said.
“The people of Zimbabwe are the custodians of the constitution, and only they can approve such a fundamental change through a referendum.”
Despite this, senior ZANU-PF officials have openly confirmed that proposals to extend the presidential term are being prepared for tabling before cabinet and parliament.
Party insiders argue that continuity is necessary to “complete development programmes,” but critics say this rhetoric masks a personal power project that undermines the rule of law.
Zimbabweans’ anger is fuelled by what they describe as massive corruption and the looting of state resources under Mnangagwa’s tenure.
Allegations persist that mineral wealth is being mortgaged to Chinese and Middle Eastern interests, with little benefit to ordinary citizens.
Critics warn that an illegal two-year extension could leave the country economically hollowed out by 2030.
Opposition voices such as former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere have warned that altering term limits to suit an individual leader sets a dangerous precedent.
“History shows us that when leaders manipulate constitutions for personal gain, countries descend into instability,” Mahere has said recently.
Across Africa and beyond, similar constitutional violations have led to coups, civil wars and prolonged conflict as citizens lose faith in democratic institutions.
The socio-economic reality on the ground amplifies these concerns.
Major cities like Harare and Bulawayo are characterised by crumbling roads and collapsing infrastructure. Harare has endured years without reliable drinking water due to corruption and mismanagement.
Unemployment is estimated by independent observers to be close to 90 percent, as investors shy away from an increasingly authoritarian environment.
Industry is largely dormant, electricity supply is unreliable, and public hospitals lack medicines and basic surgical equipment.
Even donated Russian helicopter ambulances reportedly remain unused amid corruption allegations.
Human rights groups report that political activists and government critics continue to languish in jail without trial, while thousands of Zimbabweans flee the country in search of survival abroad.
Farms seized under controversial land policies lie idle after being corruptly allocated to political elites.
Legal experts warn that proceeding without a referendum would not only be unconstitutional but could trigger domestic unrest, deepen international isolation and invite sanctions.
As Professor Madhuku cautions, tearing up the constitution to extend one man’s rule risks plunging Zimbabwe into a deeper crisis—one where legality, legitimacy and national stability are all sacrificed for personal power.
– CAJ News