THE ruling Zanu PF party has gone back to the drawing board over the controversial plan to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office after failing to gazette draft amendments to the Constitution before December 31 as promised, a party official has said.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi had hinted that he will publish the draft amendments to extend the president’s term by two years in the Government Gazette before December 31.
Mnangagwa’s term of office constitutionally ends in 2028, but the party adopted a resolution to extend his tenure to 2030.
This is despite the 83-year-old Zanu PF leader indicating that he is a constitutionalist and does not intend to remain in office when his term expires.
Zanu PF commissar Munyaradzi Machacha indicated that the amendments were imminent in his notice of opposition to a Constitutional Court application by Bulawayo-based activist, Mbuso Fuzwayo, challenging the ruling party’s resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure.
In his application, Fuzwayo cited Zanu PF, Ziyambi, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda, Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza and Mnangagwa as respondents.
Fuzwayo said the Zanu PF resolution violated his rights.
Constitutional experts said amending the Constitution to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure required a referendum and would not benefit the incumbent.
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Machacha said Zanu PF intended to avoid a referendum and was focusing on a parliamentary route where the ruling party enjoys a two-thirds majority.
Zanu PF director of information Farai Marapira told NewsDay that the ruling party has not aborted the 2030 agenda, but has instead gone back to the drawing board.
“It is not a delay, but a recalibration,” Marapira said in an interview.
“We want to do it the right way from the beginning.
“There is no rush, but be assured it will be completed by the end of the year.
“Zanu PF is not a failure when it comes to fulfilling its resolutions.”
According to Machacha, the Justice minister is seized with draft amendments on the controversial 2030 agenda, which has left Zanu PF divided over Mnangagwa’s succession.
“A referendum is not the process of public participation set out by the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” he submitted in his court papers.
“The Constitution of Zimbabwe in section 328 as read with section 131 mandates a clear rigorous and non-political gauntlet: a 90-day Gazette notice, public hearings and submissions, and two-thirds affirmative votes in each House of Parliament at final reading, culminating in a presidential assent.
“This is a parliamentary and technical odyssey, not a partisan skirmish in the political gutter.
“It is, therefore, puzzling that applicants simply declare that an amendment of section 95(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe would require a national referendum without grounding that declaration under sub-sections (1) and (7) of section 328.”
Machacha said the country’s Constitution was not immune to amendment.
The 2030 agenda has drawn fierce opposition within the party over Mnangagwa’s succession.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is seen as a front-runner to succeed Mnangagwa.
Businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei has been reported to be a dark horse, but his camp faces a fresh headache and direct competitor in Zanu PF benefactor Paul Tungwarara, who has been recommended for co-option to the central committee.
