CCC Senator raps Ziyambi over election postponement remarks

HARARE - Citizens Coalition for Change senator Jameson Timba has criticised Justice Minister and Zanu‑PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi over his recent remarks suggesting that postponing elections or extending presidential tenure would promote stability.

Timba said the comments were misleading and constitutionally dangerous.

"Zimbabwe's stability does not flow from suspending elections or manipulating term limits. It flows from respecting the Constitution, upholding regular elections, and allowing peaceful, predictable transitions of power. The 2013 Constitution, overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of Zimbabwe, is explicit: elections are held every five years," Timba said.

He argued that elections are not a burden but the primary mechanism through which citizens renew consent and hold leaders accountable. Zimbabwe's challenges, he said, stem from poor governance, institutional capture and failure to implement the Constitution, not from elections.

Timba warned that extending presidential tenure would deepen public frustration, erode legitimacy and heighten political tension.

"History, both in Zimbabwe and across the continent, teaches us a clear lesson: delaying elections in the name of stability produces the opposite effect. It breeds uncertainty, polarisation and resistance. True stability comes from constitutional certainty, not from ad‑hoc political convenience," he said.

He also criticised the reluctance to hold a referendum on the matter. "If, as claimed, there is genuine public clamour for the President to remain in office because of good work, then there should be no fear of submitting this proposal to the people. A government confident of popular support does not run away from the people's verdict," Timba said.

He added that the refusal to test the 2030 Agenda through a referendum revealed that the project was driven by fear rather than the will of the people.

"Zimbabweans are not tired of elections. They are tired of unaccountable governance, broken promises and constitutional manipulation. They are tired of being told that democracy must be suspended in order to preserve order," Timba said.

He reiterated that any attempt to postpone elections or extend presidential tenure beyond 2028 was unconstitutional in spirit and intent. "The Constitution must be implemented, not mutilated. If constitutional changes affecting presidential tenure are proposed, they must be subjected to full public debate and a referendum," he said.

Timba concluded that Zimbabwe's future could not be secured by postponing democracy but only by defending the Constitution.