Constitutional Amendments and the Question of Leadership
The recent gazetting of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has reignited a heated debate about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to constitutionalism and his earlier public pledges to serve only two terms. This development has raised concerns among critics and civil society groups, who question whether the president is genuinely committed to the principles he once championed.
In a 2018 interview with journalist Christiane Amanpour on CNN, Mnangagwa stated that he would serve only two five-year terms. Around this time last year, while addressing editors at State House, the 83-year-old leader reinforced this position, declaring he would “persuade the persuaders not to persuade him” to extend his tenure. However, the recent introduction of a bill motivated by a Zanu-PF 2025 resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure has cast doubt on the sincerity of these commitments.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment seeks to replace the current five-year presidential term with a seven-year term by amending sections 95, 143, and 158 of the constitution. Zanu PF has justified the change as a measure meant to “eliminate election mode toxicity and allow sufficient time for project implementation while promoting stability.” Additionally, the bill proposes to take away the electorate’s right to choose the president, who would instead be elected by Members of Parliament sitting jointly as the Senate and the National Assembly.
Clause 12 of the bill also proposes to move the function of the delimitation of boundaries from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Zimbabwe Electoral Delimitation Commission. Critics argue that these changes give excessive power to the executive, which Mnangagwa pledged to guard against when he assumed office following a coup that ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe in 2017.
Promises of Openness and Democratic Engagement
In his inaugural address after Mugabe’s ouster, Mnangagwa promised a break from Zimbabwe’s violent political past. He said, “Violence should be alien and vile to our nature, culture and traditions as the Zimbabwean people,” and emphasized that “All citizens must feel secure.” However, recent developments have revived concerns about shrinking civic space.
A planned public discussion on constitutional amendments featuring lawyers and politicians, including Fadzayi Mahere, Douglas Mwonzora, and Lovemore Madhuku, was cancelled at the last minute last week, despite reportedly having prior clearance from the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Reacting on X, former legislator Temba Mliswa condemned the cancellation of the event, stating that such a decision appears ill-advised and creates the perception that the government is apprehensive about allowing discourse on this pressing issue.
Censorship and Suppression of Dissent
On Friday, Jameson Timba’s Defend the Constitution Platform was barred from holding a youth meeting in Bulawayo. A letter signed by one Chief Superintendent L. Zhou cited non-compliance with the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act. According to critics, these actions contradict promises of openness and democratic engagement.
Mnangagwa acknowledged in his 2017 inaugural address that Zimbabwe’s politics had become “poisoned, rancorous and polarising,” pledging to foster unity and diversity. He stated, “My goal is to preside over a polity and run an administration that recognises strength in our diversity as a people, hoping that this position and well-meant stance will be reciprocated and radiated to cover all our groups, organisations and communities.”
Concerns Over Corruption and Governance
Opposition players argued that they have not been afforded a level playing field. The courts and Parliament’s recognition of an imposter, Sengezo Tshabangu, whose recalls decimated the main opposition’s parliamentary representation, remains a cause of concern among opposition players. The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change has tried on several occasions in the courts and in Parliament to reclaim the hijacked party from Tshabangu, but state institutions chose rather to listen to the alleged imposter.
Mnangagwa also pledged to confront corruption decisively after taking office. However, Transparency International Zimbabwe’s (TIZ) latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) indicates that corruption in Zimbabwe remains persistent. In a statement, TIZ called for urgent action in priority areas to reverse persistent corruption trends and restore confidence in governance reforms.
Civic Space and Civil Society
Civil society organisations (CSOs) argued that the legal environment amounts to a tightening of civic space. The enactment of the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Act has drawn criticism from local and international watchdogs. CSOs argued that the law grants authorities powers to deregister organisations, interfere in their governance structures, and monitor funding under the justification of combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
Critics argued that such provisions create an intimidatory effect on human rights advocacy and democratic participation, particularly at a time when debate over constitutional amendments requires open national dialogue. CSO’s say this move contradicts Mnangagwa’s early reformist messaging following the 2017 coup, when he pledged a “new dispensation” anchored on democratic reforms and engagement with the international community.
Unresolved Historical Grievances
Another pledge that continues to shadow Mnangagwa’s willingness to fulfill promises is the commitment to resolve the long-standing Gukurahundi grievances. The Gukurahundi massacres of the early 1980s, carried out by the Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands, remain one of Zimbabwe’s most painful and unresolved historical chapters.
Mnangagwa also acknowledged the need for dialogue and pledged to address the issue through a community-led process involving traditional leaders. He indicated that Zimbabweans must confront the past in order to build unity and national cohesion. However, nearly a decade into his leadership, critics argue that progress has been slow and opaque.
The Test of Constitutionalism
Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya questioned the logic behind extending both presidential and parliamentary terms to “get rid of toxicity” amid a deteriorating political and economic environment. “Why does Zanu-PF want to extend President Mnangagwa’s and the parliamentary term to seven years?” Ngwenya quizzed. “Zanu PF has been in power since 1980 but we still complain of the same infrastructure and political challenges.”
Timba argued that the debate is not about believing Mnangagwa’s word, but constitutional processes. “The issue before Zimbabwe is not about personal trust in any individual leader,” Timba said. “Constitutionalism does not depend on belief in personalities. It depends on adherence to rules.”
