SADC unconcerned by Mnangagwa term extension

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) says it is not concerned about Zimbabwe's controversial Constitutional Amendment Act 3 (CAA3), arguing that the legislation was passed through the country's domestic legal processes.

The regional bloc's position was conveyed by South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on the sidelines of the recently concluded SADC summit at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

CAA3, which was signed into law in July, has triggered heated debate in Zimbabwe, with political activists and analysts arguing that constitutional amendments extending presidential terms should not benefit incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Critics have also questioned the process that preceded the passage of the amendment, arguing that it was partisan and unconstitutional.

Under Zimbabwe's Constitution, the amendment was expected to go through a referendum, although this requirement was successfully challenged by Zanu PF.

Magwenya said SADC was not in a position to intervene in Zimbabwe's domestic constitutional processes as long as the required legal procedures were followed.

"You have to look at how the processes unfolded; it is a process that has kind of followed various domestic legal steps. Obviously, a process of that nature will draw some criticism; there will be others that express grievance against it," Magwenya said.

"It is not really for SADC to comment on those domestic processes for as long as those processes are being carried out within domestic legal frameworks, which is what has happened in Zimbabwe."

South Africa assumed the chairmanship of SADC from Zimbabwe at the summit, which ended on August 17.

CAA3 extends Mnangagwa's tenure beyond 2028 to 2030, effectively allowing him to remain in office for two additional years beyond his previous constitutional term.

The amendment also gives the President the power to appoint 10 additional senators, a provision Mnangagwa used on Tuesday when he appointed 10 senators, including businessman and Zanu PF central committee member Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Magwenya said SADC did not consider the constitutional changes to constitute a regional crisis requiring intervention.

"It is not something that SADC will express a view on because it has not constituted a crisis that the region needs to grapple with," he said.

Apart from extending the presidential term, CAA3 also introduced changes to the process of selecting the country's President.

The amendments provide for the President to be elected indirectly by Parliament, with members of the National Assembly and Senate taking part in the process.

The amendment has also attracted criticism over changes to electoral administration, including the transfer of voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar-General's Office.

The developments have intensified debate in Zimbabwe over the future of electoral democracy, presidential succession and the role of Parliament in choosing the country's next leader.