Govt dismisses 'fabricated' document on Resolution Number 1

The Government has assured the public that any constitutional amendments to implement Zanu-PF's Resolution Number One, which calls for the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term beyond 2028, will be carried out in a transparent manner. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi emphasized that the specific changes to be made have not yet been determined.

In a statement yesterday, Minister Ziyambi dismissed a document circulating on social media under the title, "Breaking Barriers Initiative," which claimed to outline the Government's position and proposed constitutional amendments. He described the document as false and misleading, noting that it bears no named author and does not represent the official stance of Zanu-PF or the Government.

"Such dissemination is accompanied by unsubstantiated, unverified and uncorroborated assertions that the document constitutes an authentic representation of the official stance of Zanu-PF and the Government of Zimbabwe regarding proposed amendments to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, intended to implement and give effect to the party's Resolution Number One," Minister Ziyambi said.

He added that while various legal practitioners, scholars, and experts have submitted proposals since November 2024 on how to implement the resolution, no decisions have yet been made to adopt or advance any of those submissions. "My office is not able to comment on or verify the authenticity of the circulating document, which may, in all likelihood, be spurious, fabricated, or manipulated," he stated.

Minister Ziyambi assured that once the relevant authorities determine the precise amendments and the process for their enactment, the public will be appropriately and transparently informed. He urged citizens to disregard the circulating document, describing attention to such unauthenticated material as "a total waste of time and an unfortunate disservice to the national interest."

Zanu-PF's 22nd Annual National People's Conference, held in Mutare last week, reaffirmed the call for legislative and constitutional changes to extend President Mnangagwa's term to 2030, citing policy continuity, economic stability, and consolidation of development gains under the Second Republic.

At the close of the conference, Minister Ziyambi, in his capacity as Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, said the party had directed the Government to begin putting in place the necessary legal and administrative frameworks to ensure the resolution is implemented before next year's National People's Conference.

He emphasized that the resolution, first adopted at the 21st National People's Conference in October 2024, recognizes the "extensive developmental milestones and significant socio-economic progress achieved under the leadership of President Mnangagwa" and seeks to extend his term for continuity and national transformation.

"All organs of the party, including the Central Committee and the Politburo, are directed to ensure that this resolution is fully implemented before the 23rd National People's Conference," Minister Ziyambi concluded, underscoring the party's commitment to legislative and constitutional follow-through.