ZANU PF says there is no need for a referendum to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s second and final term from 2028 to 2030, as the elections will be postponed to 2030 via a Constitutional Amendment.
At its 21st Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo in October 2024, ZANU PF resolved to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years.
Addressing a ZANU PF Harare Youth inter-district meeting on Saturday, Harare Provincial Chairman Godwills Masimirembwa explained the plan to amend the Constitution to extend President Mnangagwa’s term. Said Masimirembwa (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/no-need-for-referendum-to-extend-presidential-term/">The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
After Parliament amends the Constitution by postponing the elections, it is not necessary to go for a Referendum. There will be no need for a Referendum. Parliament was directed to amend the Constitution in line with Resolution Number One.
</blockquote>
He asserted that the proposed amendment aligns with Section 91(2) of the Constitution, which disqualifies anyone from running for president after serving two terms, with each term defined as three or more years. Said Masimirembwa:
<blockquote>
The Referendum is only necessary if we interfere with the term limit provision, which is a three-year period. If the President serves less than three years, it’s not considered a full term. He falls within the term limit of the presidential term provision.
</blockquote>
Masimirembwa argued that the proposed extension does not violate constitutional term limits, as it merely postpones the elections to 2030 without changing the two-term cap. He said:
<blockquote>
This will be in line with the two-term limit of the President according to the country’s Constitution. He will be within the confines of the two-term limit. What is required is just to postpone the elections up to 2030.
There is no need to worry about interference with the term limit, so the party resolution is in tandem with the term limit provision.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

ZANU PF wants to extend President Mnangagwa's term by two years without a referendum. They plan to change the Constitution and postpone the elections to 2030. The party says this won't violate the two-term limit because the extension doesn't change the term limit rules. They believe it is all in line with the Constitution. Masimirembwa, a ZANU PF official, explained this at a meeting. They don't think a referendum is needed for this change.

No Need For A Referendum To Extend Mnangagwa's Term, Says Masimirembwa

ZANU PF’s Harare Province has suspended chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa for allegedly supporting the divisive “2030 Mnangagwa will still be in office” agenda, which pushes for President Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond the constitutional two-term limit.
Reports suggest a faction loyal to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga pushed for Masimirembwa’s ouster and plans further retributions.
Masimirembwa, who was served with his suspension letter last week, is accused of violating both the party and national constitution.
The suspension was confirmed in a letter from provincial political commissar Kudakwashe Damson on November 14, 2024. It reads in part:
<blockquote>
It has been noted with utter shock and dismay, the grave acts of misconduct arising from your discharge of duties as Provincial Chairman as set out here in…
Gross abrogation of the party Constitution and national Constitution. Firstly, by you personally and actively moving the ‘2030’ initiative and sloganeering against not only the will of His Excellency, the First Secretary and President of Zanu PF, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, but also against the party and national Constitution, you have led and preferred an agenda that has the deliberate effect of causing divisions and factions in the party.
We believe that the unconstitutional actions being pursued by you are meant to deliberately undermine and impair the standing the legacy of our revered leader, His Excellency, the President, in obvious pursuit of a hidden, selfish and nefarious agenda.
</blockquote>
Masimirembwa was accused of sabotaging ZANU PF’s campaign in recent by-elections in Mt Pleasant and Harare East.
His offices at the Zimbabwe Legal Institute in Harare were also petrol-bombed, leaving a security guard with serious burns.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF's Harare Province suspended Goodwills Masimirembwa, accusing him of supporting a plan for President Mnangagwa to stay in power after his 2 terms end. A group loyal to VP Chiwenga got him suspended. Masimirembwa was accused of breaking party and national rules. His suspension letter said he caused division in the party. He was blamed for ZANU PF's losses in elections. His office was attacked.

Masimirembwa Suspended As ZANU PF Harare Chairperson

Zanu PF’s chairman for Harare province Goodwills Masimirembwa had a chair thrown at him during preparations for chaotic district elections held last weekend.
Masimirembwa’s deputy, Godwin Gomwe, appeared in court charged with assault over the September 24 incident.
Gomwe, who is accused of throwing the chair which left Masimirembwa with a scratch on his leg, was remanded to October 25 for trial by Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleged that Masimirembwa chaired a Zanu PF provincial meeting at the party headquarters in Harare to discuss impending district elections.
Gomwe arrived as the meeting was ending at around 1.15 PM and immediately complained that the meeting was held without him being notified.
Masimirembwa, the court heard, advised Gomwe that notice of the meeting was sent through a Whatsapp message.
Gomwe allegedly accused Masimirembwa of creating fictitious party districts to facilitate the rigging of internal elections in favour of Harare’s minister of state, Oliver Chidau, in forthcoming Zanu PF provincial elections.
Gomwe is alleged to have shouted obscenities at Masimirembwa saying he will deal with him. 
He allegedly proceeded to pick up a chair which he threw onto the legs of the Masimirembwa, who was seated. 
The prosecution says the chair, which is held as an exhibit, caused a scratch to Masimirembwa’s right leg.
Zanu PF is still dealing with the fallout from last weekend’s district elections amid widespread allegations of vote manipulation. 
Violent scenes were witnessed in the Midlands, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland as officials clashed during the divisive vote.
More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2021/09/30/masimirembwa-hit-with-chair-at-zanu-pf-hq-over-vote-rigging/">ZimLive</a>

Masimirembwa Hit With A Chair At ZANU PF HQ Over "Vote Rigging"

The ruling party is reportedly strategizing to defeat the opposition parties in the forthcoming Harare council seat by-elections, The Sunday Mail reports. Some seats fell vacant when the MDC T recalled some MDC Alliance councilors while one seat fell vacant after the ward councilor died.
This was revealed by Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson, Cde Goodwills Masimirembwa who said it was clear the MDC has ruined Harare and President Mnangagwa has reportedly succeeded in uncovering the rot at the council. Said Masimirembwa:
<blockquote>What His Excellency the President said is the absolute truth: the MDC has failed the City of Harare. Harare has progressively deteriorated over the last 20 years, as service delivery has virtually ground to a halt.
As ZANU PF Harare, we are gearing ourselves to reclaim all council wards, whether in the forthcoming by-elections or during the next harmonised elections. What His Excellency has done is to uncover the truth about corruption and mismanagement by the MDC councillors.
There was a misconception that land barons were outside of council. It has now become clear that the worst land barons were the senior executives and councillors in the City of Harare. The MDC has dismally failed the people. We call upon our members to report them to the corruption authorities
The DCCs have executed this well and we are campaigning for by-elections as well as mobilising for the 2023 elections. Harare Province is targeting to have 500 000 registered voters for the 2023 harmonised elections and we have strategies to mobilise these supporters in place.
The target we have as Harare is 500 000 registered voters for ZANU PF by 2023</blockquote>
The ruling party has failed to defeat the MDC in urban areas particularly in Harare where all council seats are mostly won by MDC members.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/zanu-pf-primes-for-harare-comeback">The Sunday Mail </a>

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