A senior United States lawmaker has issued a stern warning to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu-PF party, cautioning that any attempt to extend the President’s rule beyond the constitutional limit would be a grave blow to Zimbabwe’s democracy and risk further international isolation.
Gregory Meeks, the Ranking Member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the remarks in a strongly worded statement released this week following reports that Zanu-PF had resolved to initiate constitutional amendments allowing Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030.
“President Mnangagwa swore to uphold and strengthen the pillars of Zimbabwe’s democracy, including respecting term limits,” Meeks said. “Any effort to extend his term would erode that foundation and signal a regression to authoritarian rule.”
The warning comes in the wake of Zanu-PF’s Annual National People’s Conference, held last weekend in Mutare, where party delegates enthusiastically endorsed a motion urging the government to “initiate the requisite legislative processes” to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency by an additional two years. The move, which was met with loud cheers and chants from delegates, effectively laid the groundwork for a constitutional amendment that could keep Mnangagwa in office until 2030—two years beyond his current constitutional mandate.
Under Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution, the President is limited to two five-year terms, meaning Mnangagwa must step down when his current term expires in 2028. However, Zanu-PF’s overwhelming parliamentary majority gives it the power to pass amendments with relative ease. The party has already invoked the rhetoric of “continuity and stability” as justification, arguing that extending Mnangagwa’s term would allow him to “consolidate the gains” of his economic and infrastructural programs.
While Mnangagwa himself has previously insisted that he would respect constitutional limits—describing himself as “a firm constitutionalist”—his allies have increasingly signaled otherwise. Senior figures in the party, including provincial chairpersons and members of the Central Committee, have openly campaigned for the so-called “ED2030” agenda, presenting it as a patriotic duty to ensure the President “completes his vision.”
Political observers say the development has reignited fears of Zimbabwe sliding further toward authoritarianism. Constitutional lawyer Dr. Alex Magaisa noted that extending a sitting president’s term would require significant legal maneuvering and possibly two national referendums—a politically risky move in a country already divided over governance and economic mismanagement.
US Lawmaker Warns Mnangagwa Against Extending Term Beyond 2028, Says Move Would Undermine Democracy
“The Constitution is clear about presidential term limits,” Magaisa said in a commentary before his passing. “Any amendment that extends a sitting president’s term, rather than resetting it for a future officeholder, would violate both the spirit and the letter of the law.”
The push to extend Mnangagwa’s term has also exposed factional cracks within Zanu-PF, particularly between loyalists of the President and supporters of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the former army commander who played a central role in the 2017 coup that ousted longtime ruler Robert Mugabe. Reports suggest that Chiwenga’s camp views the ED2030 campaign as an attempt to sideline his own presidential ambitions, setting the stage for renewed internal power struggles.
A senior Zanu-PF insider, speaking anonymously to local media, described the resolution as “a tactical move by Mnangagwa’s inner circle to test public reaction and party discipline.” The source added that while some senior officials had privately expressed discomfort with the proposal, few were willing to voice open dissent for fear of political retribution.
The United States, which maintains targeted sanctions on several Zimbabwean officials over alleged corruption and human rights abuses, has long emphasized the need for democratic reforms, free elections, and constitutional governance. Meeks’ statement signals growing unease in Washington that Mnangagwa’s administration is backtracking on those commitments.
“Zimbabwe has a history of leaders overstaying their mandates to the detriment of their citizens,” Meeks warned. “If President Mnangagwa chooses this path, it will not only damage his legacy but also further isolate Zimbabwe from the international community.”
Analysts say the warning could carry diplomatic consequences, particularly as Harare seeks to normalize relations with Western nations and attract much-needed foreign investment. Zimbabwe’s economy remains fragile, grappling with hyperinflation, high unemployment, and currency instability despite government claims of progress.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said the attempt to extend Mnangagwa’s term could backfire both domestically and internationally. “Zimbabweans have not forgotten the trauma of the Mugabe era, where constitutional manipulation became the norm,” he said. “If Mnangagwa goes down that route, it could trigger widespread disillusionment, even among his own supporters.”
Meanwhile, opposition groups have vowed to resist the proposed amendment, describing it as “a betrayal of the liberation struggle’s values.” The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), led by Nelson Chamisa, issued a statement condemning Zanu-PF’s resolution, calling it a “clear sign of panic and illegitimacy.”
“The people of Zimbabwe will not allow another power grab disguised as constitutional reform,” the CCC statement read. “The term limits are there to prevent exactly this kind of abuse.”
As Zimbabwe edges closer to the 2028 election cycle, the question of succession—and whether Mnangagwa will abide by the constitution—has become a defining test for his leadership.
For now, Meeks’ warning underscores growing international scrutiny over Harare’s political direction. Whether Mnangagwa heeds the call or presses ahead with his allies’ plans may determine not only his own legacy but also the future of Zimbabwe’s fragile democracy.
Source- Byo24
