HARARE — The Zimbabwean government has strongly rejected remarks by a senior United States congressman cautioning President Emmerson Mnangagwa against extending his rule beyond the constitutionally mandated term limits, describing the comments as unwarranted interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana issued the response on X (formerly Twitter) after Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that any attempt to amend Zimbabwe’s Constitution to prolong Mnangagwa’s tenure would “undermine the country’s fragile democracy.”
“It is inappropriate for foreign lawmakers to make unsolicited interventions (read interferences) in our internal matters, such as Resolution Number 1,” Mangwana wrote. “While personal views are one matter, framing them as a warning to the President is unacceptable. Ultimately, it is the will of the Zimbabwean people that determines our nation’s path.”
Zanu-PF Resolution Sparks International Attention
Meeks’ remarks follow Zanu-PF’s annual conference in Mutare, where delegates adopted a controversial resolution urging the government to “initiate the requisite legislative amendments” to allow Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.
Under Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution, presidents are limited to two five-year terms, meaning Mnangagwa’s current tenure is due to end in 2028. However, Zanu-PF’s two-thirds parliamentary majority gives it the numbers required to pass constitutional amendments should it decide to move forward with the proposal.
Constitutional analysts have cautioned that extending a sitting president’s term could require approval through two national referendums, a politically and legally complex process that could test the boundaries of Zimbabwe’s governance framework.
Washington “Closely Monitoring Developments”
In his statement, Meeks said Washington was “closely monitoring developments in Harare,” reminding Mnangagwa of his 2017 pledge to uphold democratic principles following the military-assisted transition that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule.
“Extending his term would erode that foundation,” Meeks said, warning that constitutional manipulation for political gain risks further isolating Zimbabwe internationally.
Rising Political Tensions
The proposal has heightened factional tensions within Zanu-PF, particularly between Mnangagwa loyalists and allies of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who led the 2017 intervention that brought Mnangagwa to power.
Although Mnangagwa, 83, has repeatedly described himself as a “constitutionalist” and denied plans to overstay his mandate, the debate over term limits has fuelled domestic uncertainty and diplomatic scrutiny, underscoring the political volatility surrounding Zimbabwe’s succession question.
