Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, says he has no plans to change the constitution to run for a third term. The 82-year old who has been in power since 2017, has asked his ruling ZANU-PF party to choose someone to take over from him as he prepares for retirement when his term ends in 2028.

“Our (ZANU-PF) constitution says that after every five years, we go to Congress, and we elect our president,” Mnangagwa told members of his party at a meeting in the eastern city of Mutare.

“The elected president is supposed to serve two five-year terms. I served my first five-year term, and we went to Congress, and you re-elected me. Now I am serving my last five years, it ends soon and I will go and rest. When you go to Congress, select a leader who follows my footsteps,”

The announcement by the Zimbabwean leader known as ED (initials for his given name) puts an end to widespread speculation about his possible plans to seek a third term. Until now, the “ED-2030” campaign mantra was gaining traction within the lower structures of the ruling party as some party officials and supporters pushed for Mnangagwa to stay on beyond 2028.

Pushing for constitutional amendments

Some members of the ruling party have been trying to take advantage of the party’s majority and a weakened opposition to force constitutional amendments to remove presidential term limits, thus allowing Mnangagwa to run again in 2028 when he will be 86. Alternatively, the life of the current government could be extended to 2030, giving Mnangagwa an extra two years to his term. 

Constantino Chiwenga, one of Mnangagwa’s two deputies, is seen as the front-runner to take over from him. Chiwenga, a retired general, was the commander of the army when Mnangagwa came to power through a coup that toppled the late longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in November 2017. 

The announcement gives hope that Zimbabwe may shed its dubious status as the only country in southern Africa that has not had a smooth transfer of power. Mugabe had been in power for 37 years when he was toppled, having changed the constitution a record 18 times to enter himself into power.

There are, however, concerns about the military’s continued intervention in politics. Recently, Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe declared his allegiance to the ruling party, declaring that the party will rule “until donkeys grow horns” and whether the people want it or not, raising protests from the opposition and human rights groups.