ZANU PF Harare Province Seeks to Extend Mnangagwa Presidency Until 2037

Godwills Masimirembwa Proposes Extending Mnangagwa’s Leadership to 2037

ZANU PF Harare Province Targets 2037 Extension

Just days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, into law, the ruling party’s Harare Province has made a new demand. Speaking at a Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 “Thank You” rally in Epworth over the weekend, ZANU PF Harare Province chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa said the province would table a resolution at the party’s next conference seeking to retain Mnangagwa as party leader beyond 2030.

We still want him for an additional seven years, from 2030 to 2037. He must lead the party, that is what the party is saying, said Masimirembwa. He further argued that Mnangagwa’s leadership is crucial for the country’s development, noting that the people of Harare are asking what happens to him beyond 2030. Masimirembwa also cited Mnangagwa’s status as the senior surviving member of Chimurenga, the revolution that brought this country to Independence, as justification for his continued leadership.

Nick Mangwana Confirms Legal Enactment of the 2026 Constitutional Amendment

Constitutional Amendment No. 3 and the Shift to 2030

The recent legislative changes, formally confirmed by government spokesperson Nick Mangwana, were signed into law on Tuesday, July 07, 2026. Mangwana clarified the development in a post shared on X, attaching a copy of the legislation and stating, signed, sealed and delivered, it is now law.

The amendments were approved by both houses of Parliament last month after the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) secured the required two-thirds majority. The legislation extends presidential and parliamentary terms from five years to seven years. Consequently, President Mnangagwa, aged 83, who was due to leave office in 2028, will now remain in power until 2030. He would serve 12 years as president under the amendments, following the nearly four decades in power of his predecessor, former president Robert Mugabe.

Parliament Gains New Power to Elect the President Under Amended Law

Beyond the extension of terms, the amendments have introduced provisions that alter how future presidents are chosen. The legislation abolished the right of citizens to directly elect the President; henceforth, the President will be elected by Members of Parliament.

ZANU PF Justifies Term Changes as Essential for Vision 2030 Continuity

Conflicting Perspectives on Governance

ZANU PF argues that the changes will allow the government to focus on implementing development programmes without the disruption caused by frequent elections. Supporters within the party have repeatedly urged Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond the constitutional limit, arguing that the President requires more time to complete his administration’s economic and political programmes, including the completion of Vision 2030. However, critics argue the amendment weakens constitutional safeguards. The process faced criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations before it was passed by Parliament.

Sources: Newzimbabwe, Allafrica.