'Mnangagwa's views on term limits do not matter,' says Chinamasa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa's previously stated commitment to respect constitutional term limits appears to be at odds with renewed efforts within Zanu-PF to extend his tenure beyond 2028.

This follows remarks by the party's Treasurer General, Patrick Chinamasa, who suggested that the push to amend the Constitution and extend Mnangagwa's term to 2030 is now driven by party resolutions and public demand rather than the President's personal position.

In 2024, Mnangagwa dismissed suggestions that he would seek another term beyond his constitutionally mandated limit, affirming that he would step down in 2028 in line with the supreme law.

However, the gazetting of the Constitutional Amendment Bill by Parliament - alongside Zanu-PF's Resolution Number One calling for the extension of presidential term limits - has reignited debate over the President's future in office.

In a post on X, Chinamasa appeared to downplay Mnangagwa's earlier stance, arguing that the matter had moved beyond the President's personal views.

"As for the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, His Excellency, Cde Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, I say to him, Your Excellency's views on the Zanu-PF Resolution Number 1 do not matter anymore.

"Vox Populi Vox Dei. The Voice of the People is the Voice of God. The people spoke and are still speaking and demanding Your Excellency to comply and serve the Nation up to 2030. I know it is not in Your Excellency's nature to take a path that goes against the Will of the People," Chinamasa wrote.

Since the tabling of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, Mnangagwa has not publicly commented on the party's position, leaving senior Zanu-PF officials openly advocating for an extension of his rule while the President remains silent on whether he has shifted from his 2024 declaration.

Chinamasa defended the proposed amendment as a necessary reform to address what he described as a disruptive cycle of frequent elections.

"As for the lengthening of term limits for Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Authority Election Cycles I express myself to be fully behind and in support of this reform of our political system," he said.

"I have long argued that the problem of Africa's continuing underdevelopment is the frequent changes of governments giving rise to lack of continuity and the Stop-Start development path that inevitably leads to retarded development."

He further cited the development trajectory of China as a model to emulate.

"In less than half a century, China has successfully transformed itself from a largely agrarian underdeveloped country ranking as one of the poorest countries in the world to a leading economic, industrial and technological powerhouse," Chinamasa said.

The proposed amendment has intensified political debate, with critics arguing that altering presidential term limits would undermine constitutionalism, while supporters within Zanu-PF contend it would promote policy continuity and long-term development planning.

The Constitutional Amendment Bill is expected to face rigorous scrutiny as it proceeds through Parliament.