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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 countryโ€™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 2030โ€”a move the church leaders describe as an “invitation to be a co-conspirator in overthrowing the Constitution.”

โ€œAs 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,โ€ ZHOCD said in a statement. โ€œWe urge the government to adhere to the electoral timelines as stipulated in the Constitution and conduct elections in a transparent, credible, and peaceful manner.โ€

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

โ€œWe 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 nationโ€™s stability,โ€ the statement added.

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

โ€œCitizens 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,โ€ 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.

โ€œPronouncements 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,โ€ they said.

Tanaka Mrewa

Tanaka Mrewa is a journalist based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with eight years of experience in the media industry. Her expertise extends to crafting hard news, features, and investigative stories, with a primary focus on politics, elections, human rights, climate change, gender issues, service delivery, corruption, and health. In addition to her writing skills, she is proficient in video filming and editing, enabling her to create documentaries. Tanaka is also involved in fact-check story production and podcasting.

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