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Mnangagwa to urged to uphold term limits
2 hrs ago |
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Jameson Timba, convener of the Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP), has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain faithful to his public commitment to constitutionalism, amid rising pressure within Zanu-PF to amend the Constitution to extend his tenure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Timba warned that Zimbabwe is at a "defining constitutional moment," with developments unfolding in the courts, Cabinet, and Parliament that could alter the country's democratic framework.
He said attempts by Mnangagwa loyalists and Zanu-PF members to amend the Constitution and bypass the two-term presidential limit would undermine the will of the people expressed in the 2013 referendum. Opposition parties and civil society groups have also voiced concerns, cautioning that tampering with term limits would erode key democratic safeguards.
Timba stressed that the DCP "holds the Constitutional Court in the highest regard" and clarified that his statement was not intended to influence ongoing judicial proceedings. "The issue before Zimbabwe is not a political contest. It is a question of constitutional legitimacy," he said.
Highlighting Mnangagwa's previous pledge to respect the Constitution, Timba cited a 2018 CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour in which the President vowed to serve only two five-year terms. "History places a particular responsibility on the President of the republic," Timba said.
He urged all constitutional actors — including the Executive, Parliament, and independent institutions — to act with restraint, fidelity to the Constitution, and respect for the people who adopted it. "Defending the Constitution is not rebellion. It is an act of patriotism," he added.
Timba also reiterated that the DCP is not a political party but a formation focused on constitutional oversight. "We are not on the dance floor but on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. Our rule is: dance with whoever you want, but don't rewrite the dance floor. Our focus is constitutional legitimacy, not succession," he said.
The DCP convener emphasised the organisation's twin objectives of ensuring that the Constitution is neither "mutilated" nor ignored, citing devolution as an example of faithful implementation. "We are the Constitution guardrails that make democratic elections possible. We make no apologies about the anti-2030 position," Timba said.
His remarks come as the Constitutional Court considers matters linked to proposed amendments, while Cabinet and Parliament prepare to debate draft bills, including proposals that critics fear could compromise presidential term limits.
Timba urged President Mnangagwa to honour his pledge to "persuade the persuaders not to persuade him" to extend his tenure, describing the upcoming Cabinet session as an opportunity to uphold constitutional integrity over political expediency.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Timba warned that Zimbabwe is at a "defining constitutional moment," with developments unfolding in the courts, Cabinet, and Parliament that could alter the country's democratic framework.
He said attempts by Mnangagwa loyalists and Zanu-PF members to amend the Constitution and bypass the two-term presidential limit would undermine the will of the people expressed in the 2013 referendum. Opposition parties and civil society groups have also voiced concerns, cautioning that tampering with term limits would erode key democratic safeguards.
Timba stressed that the DCP "holds the Constitutional Court in the highest regard" and clarified that his statement was not intended to influence ongoing judicial proceedings. "The issue before Zimbabwe is not a political contest. It is a question of constitutional legitimacy," he said.
Highlighting Mnangagwa's previous pledge to respect the Constitution, Timba cited a 2018 CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour in which the President vowed to serve only two five-year terms. "History places a particular responsibility on the President of the republic," Timba said.
Timba also reiterated that the DCP is not a political party but a formation focused on constitutional oversight. "We are not on the dance floor but on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. Our rule is: dance with whoever you want, but don't rewrite the dance floor. Our focus is constitutional legitimacy, not succession," he said.
The DCP convener emphasised the organisation's twin objectives of ensuring that the Constitution is neither "mutilated" nor ignored, citing devolution as an example of faithful implementation. "We are the Constitution guardrails that make democratic elections possible. We make no apologies about the anti-2030 position," Timba said.
His remarks come as the Constitutional Court considers matters linked to proposed amendments, while Cabinet and Parliament prepare to debate draft bills, including proposals that critics fear could compromise presidential term limits.
Timba urged President Mnangagwa to honour his pledge to "persuade the persuaders not to persuade him" to extend his tenure, describing the upcoming Cabinet session as an opportunity to uphold constitutional integrity over political expediency.
Source - newsday
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