A BILL aimed at extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s current mandate until 2030 could be presented to Zimbabwe’s parliament in the coming days, and surprisingly, the opposition has shown its support. On Tuesday, a senior official from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), led by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, revealed that the party would not block the bill when it is officially introduced by the government.
If approved, likely through a referendum, the bill would delay the country’s elections until 2030, well beyond the current expiration of Mnangagwa’s mandate in 2028. The unexpected backing from opposition lawmakers has raised eyebrows, with many questioning their motives. Some suggest the delay in elections could benefit MPs, giving them two more years in office, and speculations are circulating that they may have been bribed to support the proposal.
Zimbabwe’s constitution currently limits the presidency to two five-year terms, and Mnangagwa is in his second and final term. However, the suggestion of removing term limits was brought up during a Zanu-PF party conference in October 2024, raising concerns about potential constitutional changes.
While some CCC members have distanced themselves from the controversial move, calling those who support it ‘sellouts,’ the bill continues to gain traction. The potential implications of this extension on Zimbabwe’s political landscape remain to be seen, but it has sparked significant debate across the country.
