Zimbabwe News Update
nehandaradio
2 min read
harare – a massive political storm has erupted in zimbabwe following revelations that a constitutional court application challenging zanu-pf’s bid to extend president emmerson mnangagwa’s term to 2030 may, in fact, be part of a covert plan to legitimise the extension through the courts. the application was filed by bulawayo-based activist mbuso fuzwayo, leader of the pressure group ibhetshu likazulu, and seeks to block the ruling party’s proposal to extend mnangagwa’s tenure beyond the constitutional limit of two terms, which ends in 2028.
fuzwayo and his organisation, represented by advocate method ndlovu of sithole law chambers, cite several high-ranking officials as respondents, including president mnangagwa, justice minister ziyambi ziyambi, speaker of parliament jacob mudenda, and attorney general virginia mabiza. at the heart of the case is zanu-pf’s 2024 national conference resolution, which directed the government to initiate constitutional amendments to extend the presidential term to 2030, citing continuity and stability. the applicants argue that the resolution violates the constitution, particularly sections 56, 67, and 328, which protect political participation, equal protection under the law, and set strict conditions for altering presidential term limits.
they contend that the proposed amendment cannot lawfully proceed without a national referendum, as required by section 328(7) for any changes that benefit an incumbent president. the constitutional court has since granted the applicants leave for direct access, acknowledging the matter’s national significance. “it threatens section 67 (political rights) by entrenching power without national referendums, infringing rights to free, fair elections and democratic participation, as the directive implies state-led changes skewing the electoral playing field.
“these infringements are imminent, given the resolution’s explicit call for government action and supporting pronouncements (eg, the minister of justice’s commitments to implement, as reported in zbc news and parliamentary discussions), necessitating the relief i crave,” the application stated. mpofu slams ndebele ‘recruitment’ in…nov 6, 202549,677 mpofu slams ndebele ‘recruitment’ in… allegations emerge of staged court challenge aimed at…nov 6, 202544,908
