Church leaders warn against presidential term extension

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has issued a strong call to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, urging him to honour the country’s Constitution by adhering to electoral timelines and ensuring a smooth handover of power when his term ends in 2028.

This statement comes amid growing calls from certain quarters to extend Mnangagwa’s presidential term to 2030—a move the church leaders describe as an “invitation to be a co-conspirator in overthrowing the Constitution.”

“As the church, we emphasise the importance of implementing electoral reforms and ensuring regular, free, and fair elections to uphold accountability, transparency, and peaceful transfer of power,” ZHOCD said in a statement. “We urge the government to adhere to the electoral timelines as stipulated in the Constitution and conduct elections in a transparent, credible, and peaceful manner.”

ZHOCD underscored the need for constitutionalism, warning that any attempts to extend presidential term limits could severely damage public trust in Zimbabwe’s electoral processes and destabilise the nation during a critical period for economic and social transformation.

“We encourage the president to adhere to the constitutional term limits and to support a peaceful transition of power in 2028 following free, fair, and credible elections. Extending term limits would irretrievably erode public confidence in the electoral process and harm the nation’s stability,” the statement added.

The church leaders also urged citizens to rally behind the Constitution and prioritise Zimbabwe’s collective good over partisan interests.

“Citizens must make their voices heard in support of constitutionalism. The government must implement electoral reforms and promote multi-party democracy, while Parliament must fulfill its oversight role to ensure the Executive upholds, respects, and defends the Constitution by adhering to presidential term limits,” the ZHOCD noted.

In a prayerful appeal to Mnangagwa, the church leaders encouraged him to resist any temptation to extend his term, stating that doing so would preserve the democratic values fought for during the liberation struggle and foster national unity and peace.

“Pronouncements of respecting term limits have always been a significant step toward reinforcing the gains of the liberation struggle, promoting good governance, and ensuring democratic norms. We trust that the president remains committed to his oath to uphold, defend, and respect both the Constitution and the law in letter and spirit,” they said.