'Mnangagwa's third term bid impossible'

Constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku has stated that the pursuit of a third term for President Emmerson Mnangagwa is nearly impossible and will face significant hurdles.

Last year, Zanu-PF adopted a resolution to extend Mnangagwa's term by two years, aiming for 2030, although the veteran politician has consistently insisted that he does not intend to prolong his stay.

In an interview with Open Parly, Madhuku emphasized the complexity of amending the Constitution to accommodate a third term for Mnangagwa. He outlined the required steps, starting with the publication of the first Bill to amend the Constitution. This would be followed by a 90-day debate period for ordinary citizens. Afterward, the Bill would need to pass through Parliament, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Finally, a referendum would be needed, where the public would vote on the amendment, requiring a majority to pass.

Madhuku noted the difficulty in achieving these thresholds, suggesting that even with Zanu-PF's two-thirds parliamentary majority, it cannot be guaranteed. He explained that the process cannot be assumed to be straightforward, as political dynamics may shift during the debate and voting phases.

"It cannot be assumed that since Zanu-PF has a two-thirds majority they'll obtain the two-thirds majority. They may not obtain the two-thirds majority. But if they get it, they have to go to a referendum," he said.

He also pointed out that once the referendum is held, it would essentially become a vote on Mnangagwa's continued presidency, adding to the complexity of the process.

"When you then go to the stage of voting yes or no, it will be very simple. Do you want the President to continue or you would want the President to serve 10 years? So most people that respect the President would simply want him to rest after 10 years. So when you say possible, I think it might be a very loose word," Madhuku said.

Madhuku further highlighted that the President himself would be required to sign off on any constitutional amendments, adding another layer of difficulty.

"So that will be with the Bill number one and then for it to then be signed into law, the President must sign it into law. So Mnangagwa himself will be the one who has to put his signature for the approval to the amendment of the Constitution," he said.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa continues to engage with various political groups. On Sunday, he hosted legislators from Zanu-PF and a splinter faction of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by self-imposed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe.

The push for Mnangagwa's extended presidency appears to be moving forward with a three-pronged strategy: securing a Zanu-PF resolution for constitutional change, leveraging Tshabangu's CCC faction to ratify amendments, and mobilizing grassroots support for a referendum to finalize the process.