ZIMBABWE stands at a defining constitutional moment.
What is unfolding in the courts, Cabinet and Parliament is a high-stakes test of whether the 2013 Constitution — overwhelmingly endorsed by citizens in a national referendum — still carries binding authority or can be bent for political expediency.
The Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP) is, therefore, justified in calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to honour his public pledge to leave office at the end of his constitutionally-mandated two terms in 2028 and to rein in those pushing to extend his stay in office to 2030.
The Constitution is explicit on presidential term limits. That provision was not accidental. It was born out of a painful national experience with over-centralised power and prolonged incumbency. Zimbabweans voted for term limits precisely to ensure leadership renewal, prevent entitlement to office and protect the republic from personalised rule.
The late former President Robert Mugabe was determined to create a life presidency and the 2013 Constitution was intended to put a stop to leaders who don’t want to leave office.
The clause which states that the two terms will not apply retrospectively was carefully inserted as a sweetener, knowing full well that time will come to pass.
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That guardrail is under threat.
The ruling Zanu PF party’s resolution at the Mutare national people’s conference — directing Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to implement constitutional amendments before this year’s conference — has activated a process that threatens to fundamentally alter Zimbabwe’s democratic architecture.
With principles of the amendment reportedly headed for Cabinet and a Zanu PF-dominated Parliament, the outcome is clear.
However, it will come at a cost.
President Mnangagwa cannot be a bystander, watching akimbo as loyalists push to shred the supreme law, declaring that “only the Bible cannot be amended”.
He sits at the centre of this process. He can stop the amendment in Cabinet. He can refuse to assent to a Bill that mutilates the supreme law. His signature will either defend the Constitution or fracture it. In that sense, the current manoeuvres rise or fall on his personal integrity and commitment to constitutionalism.
Mnangagwa must honour his word. He has repeatedly assured Zimbabweans — and the international community — that he is a constitutionalist who respects term limits. Reneging on that pledge will not only damage his personal standing but also confirm long-held scepticism about reformist claims made since 2017.
Honouring his word is also essential for institutional stability. Altering term limits mid-stream sends a dangerous message that constitutional rules are negotiable for those in power. That precedent will weaken all future safeguards, encourage factionalism and entrench a culture where loyalty replaces law.
There is also a regional and international dimension. Zimbabwe’s quest for re-engagement depends on predictable governance and respect for constitutional norms. A term-extension project reinforces perceptions of democratic backsliding and further complicates efforts to restore confidence, investment and legitimacy.
Supporters of the extension argue that they are rewarding the President for economic progress. But constitutions are not performance bonuses. Even the most capable leader must submit to the rules of succession. Democracy is sustained not by personalities, but by institutions that outlive individuals.
Leadership in a constitutional democracy is a relay, not a solo race. No matter how strong the runner, the baton must be passed.
Mnangagwa still has an opportunity to define his legacy positively — as a leader who broke with the past, respected the supreme law and proved that in Zimbabwe, power is held in trust, not owned.
Mr President, that legacy begins with a decisive step: honour your word and tell those pushing for term extension to stop it.