In a move that has sent ripples across Zimbabwe’s political landscape, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has resolved to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure by two years, potentially keeping the 83-year-old leader in office until 2030. The announcement came on October 18, 2025, during the party’s annual conference in the eastern border town of Mutare, drawing both enthusiastic support and vocal opposition from within the party and beyond.
According to Bloomberg, Ziyambi Ziyambi, ZANU-PF’s secretary for legal affairs and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, stated that the extension aims to “ensure continuity, stability and sustained transformation of the nation.” This sentiment was echoed throughout the conference, with hundreds of delegates reportedly cheering as the motion passed. The party, which has maintained an unbroken hold on power since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, directed the government to begin the legislative process necessary to make the extension a reality.
“The move is taken to ensure continuity, stability and sustained transformation of the nation,” Ziyambi Ziyambi declared at the conference, as reported by Bloomberg. The decision was not made in isolation; both the War Veterans League and the Women’s League within ZANU-PF also resolved in favor of giving Mnangagwa more time at the helm, citing what they described as extensive development under his leadership. The conference resolutions further tasked Ziyambi with initiating all required legal steps, underscoring the party’s commitment to seeing the plan through.
Yet, the path to extending Mnangagwa’s presidency is far from straightforward. Under Zimbabwe’s current Constitution, the president is limited to two five-year terms, which would see Mnangagwa stepping down in 2028. To extend his rule, the Constitution’s term-limit provisions would need to be amended—a process that could require significant legal maneuvering and, according to some legal experts, possibly two public referendums. Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional law lecturer cited by the Associated Press, emphasized the complexity of altering presidential term limits, highlighting the potential need for broad public approval.
Despite these hurdles, ZANU-PF’s dominance in Parliament gives it a considerable advantage. The party has controlled the legislative body since 1980, making it uniquely positioned to drive constitutional changes. Still, the prospect of amending term limits has sparked internal divisions. While factions loyal to Mnangagwa have campaigned vigorously for his continued leadership, others within the party—particularly allies of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga—have voiced their opposition. Chiwenga, who played a pivotal role in the 2017 coup that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe, has not publicly commented on the extension proposal. However, his supporters have taken to platforms like YouTube to denounce the campaign, with some calling for public protests.
Blessed Geza, a Chiwenga ally and veteran of the 1970s liberation war, has been especially outspoken. In a series of online broadcasts, Geza criticized the bid to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure, drawing thousands of viewers. Despite these efforts, calls for mass protests have largely fizzled, in part due to a heavy police presence that has deterred public demonstrations. The government’s readiness to deploy security forces underscores the tense atmosphere surrounding the proposed constitutional changes.
Interestingly, President Mnangagwa himself has remained somewhat circumspect on the issue. In his closing remarks at the conference, he made no mention of the extension proposal, maintaining a public stance consistent with his previous declarations. “I am a constitutionalist,” Mnangagwa has said in the past, insisting he had no plans to exceed his mandate. Nevertheless, the momentum behind the extension appears to be driven by loyalists within the party, rather than by the president himself—at least publicly.
The conference’s resolutions were not limited to the presidential term extension. Delegates also addressed a range of policy issues, reflecting the party’s broader agenda. According to The Herald, the conference called for the establishment of women-focused mining and agricultural hubs, aimed at boosting economic participation and empowering women through access to soft loans. The Women’s League, in particular, championed this initiative, underscoring the importance of gender inclusivity in Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.
War veterans were also a focal point, with resolutions passed to facilitate the repatriation of remains of those not buried in Zimbabwe and to provide state-assisted burials for veterans. These gestures are intended to honor the country’s liberation struggle and reinforce the party’s historical narrative, which has long been central to its identity and legitimacy.
Another key issue addressed at the conference was the future of Zimbabwe’s currency. Delegates urged the government to render full support to the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, with the goal of making it the sole legal tender for all domestic transactions, including the purchase of fuel. This move is seen as part of a broader effort to stabilize the economy and assert greater monetary sovereignty in the face of ongoing economic challenges.
Despite the party’s unified front at the conference, the prospect of extending Mnangagwa’s rule has raised eyebrows both domestically and internationally. Critics argue that amending term limits undermines democratic principles and sets a troubling precedent. They point to similar constitutional changes in other African countries, where leaders have used legal amendments to prolong their time in office—often at the expense of democratic accountability. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that continuity is essential for Zimbabwe’s ongoing development and that Mnangagwa’s leadership has delivered tangible progress that warrants more time.
The debate is further complicated by Zimbabwe’s fraught political history. The country’s transition from Mugabe’s nearly four-decade rule was marked by promises of reform and renewal, with Mnangagwa positioning himself as a modernizer and constitutionalist. The current push to extend his presidency, however, risks reigniting old tensions and raising questions about the future of democracy in Zimbabwe.
For now, the government is under orders to "initiate the requisite legislative amendments" to implement the extension, as Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed. All constitutional legalities are to be ensured before the next year’s conference, signaling that the process may take months or longer to unfold. Whether the extension will be achieved—and whether it will withstand legal and political scrutiny—remains to be seen.
As Zimbabwe stands at this crossroads, the coming months promise to be pivotal. The choices made will shape not only the country’s leadership but also its democratic institutions and the legacy of its current generation of leaders.
