ZANU PF has given another reason for the controversial amendment of the Constitution through Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 of 2026.
Initially, the party argued that extending presidential, parliamentary and local authority terms from five to seven years will provide the consistency needed to complete long-term infrastructure projects and achieve upper-middle-income economy status without interruption.
It also argued that holding elections every five years creates constant political polarisation, divides communities and drains financial resources that should be channelled towards national development.
However, addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Harare on Thursday, ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa gave a somewhat different reason for the amendment.
Mutsvangwa claimed Zimbabwe could have been “ambushed” by forces opposed to the ruling party during the 2028 elections had it not pushed through Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3.
He said the amendment had helped avert what he described as the country’s vulnerability in 2028.
“The questions which arise at that crucial handover stage are such that the country will be very strong to withstand any stresses,” he said.
“Basically, a lot of preparation may have been put in by detractors and those who are sworn enemies of the liberation movement to ambush 2028.
“There was a possibility that the country may not even be well prepared to withstand this pressure, and it is this assessment by ZANU PF which made us start looking at our constitution.”
Political observers saw CAA3 as clipping the ambitions of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who had reportedly eyed the presidency.
Mutsvangwa, who is vehemently opposed to Chiwenga’s rise and is also said to harbour presidential ambitions himself, took a swipe at those with similar aspirations, telling them to put their ambitions on hold until President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure ends in 2030.
“The detractors will have nothing to shout about. We are now very confident of the certainty of leadership; we are also confident of the stability of the political system, and we are very assured of the sustenance of the economic miracle,” said Mutsvangwa.
“At our meeting yesterday in the Politburo, there was unanimous expression of gratitude and gladness about the President.
“There may be ambition, and rightfully so in politics—that is why everybody is a politician; ambition is right—but there is a time when ambition has to curve in to the realities of what people want.”
More: NewZimbabwe.com
