{"id":1682,"date":"2026-01-16T03:26:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1682"},"modified":"2026-01-16T03:26:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:26:56","slug":"fears-of-dictatorship-as-zanu-pf-pushes-mnangagwa-term-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1682","title":{"rendered":"Fears of dictatorship as ZANU-PF pushes Mnangagwa term extension"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by NQOBANI MATHIBELA<\/em>
GWANDA – 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics say the move\u2014widely discussed within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union \u2013 Patriotic Front (ZANU\u2013PF) would rely on a captured cabinet and a polarised parliament to amend the constitution and prolong Mnangagwa\u2019s tenure to 2030, in blatant violation of democratic norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition parties, constitutional lawyers and civil society organisations warn that such a move would confirm fears that Mnangagwa is consolidating authoritarian power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They argue that international partners, including the United States, must be alerted to what they describe as a systematic dismantling of constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the centre of the debate is a clear constitutional barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is impossible for parliament or cabinet to extend Mnangagwa\u2019s tenure on their own,\u201d Madhuku recently said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe people of Zimbabwe are the custodians of the constitution, and only they can approve such a fundamental change through a referendum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Party insiders argue that continuity is necessary to \u201ccomplete development programmes,\u201d but critics say this rhetoric masks a personal power project that undermines the rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zimbabweans\u2019 anger is fuelled by what they describe as massive corruption and the looting of state resources under Mnangagwa\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allegations persist that mineral wealth is being mortgaged to Chinese and Middle Eastern interests, with little benefit to ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics warn that an illegal two-year extension could leave the country economically hollowed out by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHistory shows us that when leaders manipulate constitutions for personal gain, countries descend into instability,\u201d Mahere has said recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across Africa and beyond, similar constitutional violations have led to coups, civil wars and prolonged conflict as citizens lose faith in democratic institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The socio-economic reality on the ground amplifies these concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unemployment is estimated by independent observers to be close to 90 percent, as investors shy away from an increasingly authoritarian environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry is largely dormant, electricity supply is unreliable, and public hospitals lack medicines and basic surgical equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even donated Russian helicopter ambulances reportedly remain unused amid corruption allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farms seized under controversial land policies lie idle after being corruptly allocated to political elites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal experts warn that proceeding without a referendum would not only be unconstitutional but could trigger domestic unrest, deepen international isolation and invite sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Professor Madhuku cautions, tearing up the constitution to extend one man\u2019s rule risks plunging Zimbabwe into a deeper crisis\u2014one where legality, legitimacy and national stability are all sacrificed for personal power.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by NQOBANI MATHIBELAGWANDA – 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\u2014widely discussed within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union \u2013 Patriotic Front (ZANU\u2013PF) would rely on a captured […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,44,45,3,12,41],"tags":[310],"class_list":["post-1682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors-pick","category-featured","category-local","category-national","category-news","category-politics","category-politics-news","tag-zimbabwean-president-emmerson-mnangagwa-seeks-to-cling-on-power-contrary-to-his-initial-promise-of-two-term-tenure"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1-150x150.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1-300x176.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1-768x451.jpg","large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1.jpg","post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"administrator","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"by NQOBANI MATHIBELAGWANDA – 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\u2014widely discussed within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union \u2013 Patriotic Front (ZANU\u2013PF) would rely on a captured […]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Editor's Pick","Featured","Local","National","News","Politics","Politics"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":66,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1.jpg",1000,587,false],"medium":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1-300x176.jpg",300,176,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Emmerson-Mnangagwa-1.1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"administrator","author_link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?author=2"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"Editor's Pick<\/a> Featured<\/a> Local<\/a> National<\/a> News<\/a> Politics<\/a> Politics<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1682"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1684,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1682\/revisions\/1684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}