Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday quashed a spirited campaign by the ruling ZANU PF party for him to extend his term in office beyond its expiry in 2028, by insisting on observing the two-term, ten-year presidential term limit imposed by the national constitution.
At the close of the party’s annual National People’s Conference here, all the country’s ten provinces proposed to extend the presidential term to 2030, much to the excitement of the 4 000 delegates packed in the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre.
The push for President Mnangagwa to stay put in office had been building up steadily in party circles across the country ahead of the conference, in spite of the incumbent’s public refusal to tweak the constitution for his benefit.
Party legal secretary, Patrick Chinamasa told the delegates President Mnangagwa had also repeatedly shot down the idea to him, including as recently as Tuesday this week, and at the conference itself.
He said he first consulted President Mnangagwa on the issue in August, then again September after persistent calls for the extension, and in all cases he declined, choosing to maintain the integrity of the constitution.
Chinamasa said while it was possible to amend the constitution to enable the extension of President Mnanganwa’s presidential term, it was a monumental task that would involve at least two constitutional amendments and a national referendum.
Party delegates would not, however, have it, and pressed for the reversal of President Mnangagwa’s position in favour of their own, as captured in the provincial resolutions.
When Chinamasa announced the provinces’ demand for the constitutional amendment of presidential term limit, delegates exploded in song and dance over their perceived triumph, only for their mood to be sharply dampened moments later when the party legal guru gave President Mnangagwa’s take and position on the issue.
In view of rapid economic growth and transformation taking place in the country in the last few years, Chinamasa said he understood, and appreciated why the party was pushing for the presidential term extension.
But he could not, nor the party, force the horse to drink water if it did not wish to.
“Lastly, Your Excellency allow me to deal with this resolution. Your Excellency, all provinces resolved for an extension. It is the resolution all provinces passed and which was also supported by the thematic committees which sat yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday).
The resolution appears in all the thematic committees,” Chinamasa said.
“That the President and First Secretary of ZANU (PF), His Excellency Dr E. D. Mnangagwa term of office as President of Zimbabwe and First Secretary of ZANU (PF) be extended beyond 2028 to 2030.
“That the party and government should set in motion the necessary amendments to the national constitution so as to give effect to this resolution,” he added.
“I understand clearly the motivation behind the resolution. We have scored greater achievement in a very short space of time under the leadership of His Excellency the President. So, I understand the motivation is that these achievements should continue.
“However, our department was being asked the question: is it legally possible? And the short answer I gave was that, yes, it was legally possible. But……to achieve it we need two separate constitutional amendments. Amendment to remove the Presidential term limit that is fixed in the constitution. The next constitutional amendment would be to remove the disability the constitution places on his Excellency to serve beyond 2028,” said Chinamasa.
“The constitutional bills must be separate not in one constitutional bill and each constitutional bill must be followed by a referendum so we are looking here at two constitutional amendment bills going through all the motions and also two separate referendums.
“I felt on these two I should seek instructions from HE. I was granted a meeting in August, where I raised the issue and to find out what his position is. I was given an answer and I was not satisfied and I asked again for a meeting mid-September and again to seek an answer. I was given the same answer I was given in August. But just to be sure whether I was in the right direction I called and I asked for another meeting which his Excellency granted me on Tuesday and this time I had a witness. I was not alone fortunately.”
“I was given the same answer I was given in August, September and on Tuesday. Just before I took to the podium I whispered in the ear of the President “Is what you told me in the three meetings still standing and he was emphatic, Yes it still stands.
“Now what is that answer, and in fact I must say each time I went to ask I got the impression that he was angry with me for raising issues where he had made pronouncements locally and while he was in the People`s Republic Of China.
“I felt that given my position, I should always heed what the leadership says. But I wanted to get it from the horse’s mouth. Now his Excellency said: I want to repeat what he said on Tuesday. And many of you have heard it on many occasions that he says he is a constitutionalist and for certain I know his Excellency is a constitutionalist,” Chinamasa told the downcast delegates.
“Furthermore, his Excellency’s hand was involved in the drafting of the constitution. Those of you who remember I was the chief negotiator in the party subcommittee and I was to report to his Excellency. His Excellency had a big hand in the drafting of the national constitution.
“I will abide by the constitution which limits Presidential terms and I have no intention of serving beyond 2028. This may come as sad news to you but please do not stone the messenger.
“So where we stand is of all the resolutions there is one resolution which cannot be implemented without the express consent and agreement of President.
On Monday he told me to feel free to tell you. You consulted me,” Chinamasa said.
New Ziana