Ramaphosa warned Mnangagwa?

Cyril Ramaphosa made an unannounced visit to Zimbabwe on Sunday, where he reportedly warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa against pushing ahead with constitutional changes that could destabilise the country.

The visit, not publicly disclosed in advance by either Pretoria or Harare, saw Ramaphosa land in the capital before travelling by helicopter with Mnangagwa to his Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe. There, the two leaders toured agricultural projects, including maize fields, cattle operations and a dam stocking exercise.

However, sources say the trip carried significant political weight beyond its agricultural optics.

Among those present during part of the visit were businessmen Wicknell Chivayo, Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Paul Tungwarara, figures often associated with lucrative state contracts. They reportedly attended a briefing with Ramaphosa before a private meeting between the two heads of state.

At the centre of discussions was the proposed Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill, which is expected to come before the Parliament of Zimbabwe later this month. The Bill seeks to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and introduce a system where the president is elected by Parliament, proposals critics argue could weaken democratic accountability.

The issue has reportedly intensified divisions within the ruling party, with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said to be opposed to the changes. Chiwenga, a key figure in the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état that brought Mnangagwa to power, was not present at the meeting, nor was fellow Vice President Kembo Mohadi.

According to sources, concerns were raised during the meeting about growing tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, with allegations of a potential political fallout that could have wider regional implications.

Ramaphosa is also understood to be mindful of domestic pressures in South Africa, where upcoming local government elections and rising anti-immigrant sentiment have heightened sensitivity to instability in neighbouring countries.

"Ramaphosa came to convey South Africa's profound concern about the threat of a new political crisis in Zimbabwe which would also carry economic consequences," a diplomatic source said.

A statement from the South African presidency later described the trip only as a "working visit to discuss issues of mutual and bilateral interests," without detailing the discussions. It highlighted the strong trade relationship between the two countries, noting that South African exports to Zimbabwe reached approximately US$4.30 billion in 2025.

Zimbabwe's presidential spokesperson had not commented at the time of reporting.

With Parliament expected to vote on the Bill in the coming weeks, attention now turns to how Mnangagwa will proceed amid mounting political pressure at home and concern from regional partners.