Zanu-PF plots coup against Constitution

The ruling Zanu-PF party has intensified efforts to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's presidency beyond the constitutionally-mandated two-term limit, a move that has sparked concerns among constitutional lawyers and opposition parties.

Zanu-PF is pushing for a two-year extension, which would extend Mnangagwa's tenure to 2030, under the pretext that the President has unfinished projects, particularly his Vision 2030. Critics, however, argue that the true motive behind the push is to allow Mnangagwa to cling to power, rather than to complete his development goals.

Rather than following the constitutional process for extending the presidency, which would require amendments through referenda, Zanu-PF is attempting to manipulate Parliament to postpone the 2028 elections by two years. This controversial move, according to legal experts, would bypass the rule of law and could constitute a subversion of the Constitution.

At a party policy meeting held on Monday, Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha confirmed that the party is fully committed to implementing the resolution passed during its Bulawayo annual conference last October, which calls for extending Mnangagwa's term beyond 2028. The resolution, Machacha said, is now in the implementation stage.

"There is no going back in implementing the resolution," Machacha declared. "Those who do not support the resolution were free to debate it at the conference, Provincial Coordinating Committee meetings, or District Coordinating Committee meetings. We are now at the implementation stage."

However, constitutional experts are sounding alarms over the legality of such a move. Professor Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional law academic at the University of Zimbabwe, warned that Parliament cannot lawfully postpone elections without violating the fundamental tenets of the Constitution.

"The Parliament of Zimbabwe cannot simply postpone elections without staging a coup against the Constitution," Madhuku stated in an interview with The NewsHawks. "Such a move would fundamentally undermine the democratic processes of the country."

The push for an extended presidency raises questions about the erosion of Zimbabwe's democratic norms and the subversion of its constitutional framework. According to experts, manipulating the Constitution to extend the tenure of a sitting president has serious implications for the stability of the political system. It undermines the peaceful transfer of power, a core principle of democracy, and can foster widespread disillusionment among the electorate.

When political leaders manipulate the Constitution for personal gain, it disrupts the political consensus necessary for stable governance. Political polarization and tensions often follow, which can escalate into unrest or even violence. History has shown that such political maneuvers can pave the way for military intervention, as seen in Zimbabwe in 2017 when the military intervened to remove then-President Robert Mugabe from power, leading to Mnangagwa's ascent.

In many African countries, constitutional manipulation and the extension of presidential terms have frequently led to violent confrontations and military takeovers, further destabilizing the political climate. Zimbabwe's recent history of military intervention following political upheaval serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of disregarding constitutional principles.

As Zanu-PF presses forward with its agenda to extend Mnangagwa's presidency, the legal and political landscape of Zimbabwe remains at a crossroads. The growing tension over the issue has sparked debates on the future of Zimbabwe's democracy and the potential long-term impacts of undermining constitutional integrity.