Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. DEFEND the Constitution Platform (DCP) convener Jameson Timba has pleaded with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain faithful to his public commitment to constitutionalism, as pressure mounts within Zanu PF to amend the Constitution to extend his stay in office.
In a statement issued under the banner of DCP, Timba warned that Zimbabwe was at a “defining constitutional moment”, with developments unfolding in the courts, Cabinet and Parliament that can alter the country’s democratic architecture.
Mnangagwa loyalists and Zanu PF members have, in recent months been pushing for constitutional amendments to allow him to remain in office beyond the current two-term limit, a move critics say will undermine the will of the people expressed in the 2013 referendum.
The growing push for constitutional changes has heightened political tensions, with opposition parties and civil society groups warning that any attempt to tamper with presidential term limits will erode key democratic safeguards embedded in the 2013 Constitution.
Timba’s remarks come as the Constitutional Court sits to consider matters linked to proposed constitutional changes, while Cabinet and Parliament are set to resume work amid revelations that draft amendments are ready.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi recently disclosed that a Bill to amend the Constitution is complete and awaiting presentation before Cabinet and Parliament. The development has triggered concerns among opposition parties and civil society amid fears that provisions related to presidential term limits in the 2013 Constitution are under threat.
Timba said DCP held the Constitutional Court “in the highest regard,” adding that his statement was not intended to influence matters before the court, but to raise constitutional concerns.
“The issue before Zimbabwe is not a political contest. It is a question of constitutional legitimacy,” Timba said.
Mnangagwa has on several occasions publicly stated that he is a constitutionalist and will abide by the Constitution.
“In 2018, in an interview with Christiane Amanpour of CNN, President Emmerson Mnangagwa stated publicly that he will serve only two five-year terms,” Timba said in his statement.
“At this moment, history places a particular responsibility on the President of the republic.”
He said the 2013 Constitution, adopted through a national referendum set clear limits on executive power, presidential terms and succession, describing those limits as essential safeguards rather than political inconveniences.
“The Defend the Constitution Platform urges all constitutional actors — the Executive, Parliament and independent institutions — to act with restraint, fidelity to the Constitution, and respect for the people who adopted it. Defending the Constitution is not rebellion. It is an act of patriotism,” he said.
Timba encouraged Mnangagwa to abide by his pledge that he will “persuade the persuaders not to persuade him” to extend his tenure.
“Tomorrow [today], as chair of Cabinet, the President will have an opportunity to honour those words, not for political advantage, but for constitutional integrity,” Timba said.
Meanwhile, Timba said DCP was neither a political party nor a private voluntary organisation, but a political formation focused on constitutional oversight.
“The DCP is not on the dance floor but on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. Our rule is: dance with whoever you want, but don’t rewrite the dance floor. Our focus is constitutional legitimacy, not succession,” he said.
He said DCP had twin objectives of ensuring the Constitution is not “mutilated” and that it is fully implemented.
“We are the Constitution guardrails that make democratic elections possible. We make no apologies about the anti-2030 position,” he said.
Timba added that DCP would push for the full and faithful implementation of the Constitution as it was, citing devolution as an example.
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