Lovemore Madhuku, the leader of Zimbabwe’s National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) party, has announced plans to mobilize citizens against proposed constitutional amendments that could extend presidential term limits. The opposition effort is focused on preventing changes that would potentially allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to serve beyond his current term.
In recent public statements, Madhuku said his party would organize to oppose any effort to rewrite the country’s governing charter, specifically concerning the executive term of office. Under Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution, a president is restricted to two five-year terms. President Mnangagwa is currently serving his second term, which is set to conclude in 2028.
Discussions surrounding a potential extension, often referred to as the “anti-2030” debate in local political discourse, have been reported in Zimbabwe. Proponents have suggested that constitutional changes could be made to allow the president to run for a third term, while opponents argue such a move would undermine the country’s democratic principles and rule of law. To date, no formal bill to amend the constitution regarding term limits has been introduced to Parliament.
Madhuku’s announcement follows a recent incident in which he and other NCA party members were reportedly assaulted by unknown individuals. Reports at the time indicated the assault occurred while Madhuku and his supporters were campaigning against the proposed constitutional amendments.
The NCA, which originated as a civic organization that advocated for constitutional reform before becoming a political party, has reiterated its position to uphold the current term limits. Madhuku has stated that the party’s campaign will focus on defending the existing constitutional framework against any alterations that would affect the presidential tenure. The government of Zimbabwe and the ruling ZANU-PF party have not issued a formal response to Madhuku’s latest statements.
