Zimbabwe rubbishes remarks by US lawmaker

The Zimbabwean government has dismissed remarks by a senior United States lawmaker cautioning President Emmerson Mnangagwa against attempts to extend his stay in power beyond the constitutionally mandated term limits, describing the comments as interference in the country's internal affairs.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana issued a strong response on X (formerly Twitter) after U.S. Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that any move to amend Zimbabwe's Constitution to prolong Mnangagwa's rule would "undermine the country's fragile democracy."

In his tweet, Mangwana said:

"It is inappropriate for foreign lawmakers to make unsolicited interventions (read interferences) in our internal matters, such as Resolution Number 1. While personal views are one matter, framing them as a warning to the President is unacceptable. Ultimately, it is the will of the Zimbabwean people that determines our nation's path."

Meeks' remarks come in the wake of Zanu-PF's annual conference in Mutare, where delegates adopted a controversial resolution urging the government to "initiate the requisite legislative amendments" to allow President Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.

Under Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution, a president is limited to two five-year terms, meaning Mnangagwa's current tenure is set to end in 2028. However, the ruling party's overwhelming parliamentary majority could give it a clear path to push through constitutional changes if it chooses to proceed.

Constitutional experts have cautioned that extending a sitting president's term may require approval through two national referendums, a complex process that could test both legal and political boundaries.

Meeks said Washington was "closely monitoring developments in Harare," reminding that Mnangagwa had pledged to uphold democratic principles when he came to power in 2017. "Extending his term would erode that foundation," he said.

The proposal has deepened factional tensions within Zanu-PF, particularly between Mnangagwa loyalists and supporters of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who led the 2017 military-assisted transition that ousted the late Robert Mugabe.

While President Mnangagwa, 83, has previously described himself as a "constitutionalist" and denied any intention to overstay his mandate, the debate over potential term-limit extensions continues to fuel political and diplomatic scrutiny at home and abroad.