ZANU PF has stated that a referendum is unnecessary for extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s second and final term from 2028 to 2030, as the elections will be rescheduled to 2030 through a Constitutional Amendment.
At its 21st Annual National People’s Conference held in Bulawayo in October 2024, ZANU PF decided to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency by two additional years.
During a ZANU PF Harare Youth inter-district meeting on Saturday, Harare Provincial Chairman Godwills Masimirembwa clarified the plan to amend the Constitution in order to delay the elections. Masimirembwa, speaking via The Herald, explained:
After Parliament makes the constitutional amendments to delay the elections, a Referendum won’t be necessary. There is no need for a Referendum. Parliament was instructed to adjust the Constitution as per Resolution Number One.
He further explained that this amendment would align with Section 91(2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a person cannot run for president after serving two terms, with each term considered to be at least three years. Masimirembwa noted:
A Referendum is only required if we alter the provision on term limits, which defines a term as a three-year period. If the President serves for less than three years, it is not seen as a full term, and he remains within the term limit guidelines.
Masimirembwa maintained that the proposed extension does not breach the constitutional two-term limit since it only postpones the elections to 2030 without altering the term limits. He emphasized:
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This is consistent with the constitutional two-term limit for the President. The extension only postpones the elections to 2030 and doesn’t affect the two-term cap. There’s no concern regarding the term limit, as the party's resolution aligns with the constitutional provisions.
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