Opposition chief and constitutional lawyer Douglas Mwonzora has asserted that Zimbabwe’s Constitution is designed to make it extraordinarily troublesome for anybody to amend and lengthen the presidential time period restrict.

Mwonzora was commenting on the continued debate about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s alleged plan to increase his time period of workplace past the constitutionally mandated two-term restrict, which is meant to finish in 2028. His supporters proceed to name for the extension of his rule.

But Mwonzora has cited Section 328 of the Constitution, which states that any amendments to the time period restrict clause should bear the conventional legislative processes and in the end be put to a referendum.

The referendum would pose a easy query: whether or not or to not lengthen the presidential time period restrict. If the referendum succeeds, the modification wouldn’t profit the incumbent president, on this case, President Mnangagwa.

“The Constitution was designed to make it almost impossible for anybody to amend and extend the term limit,” Mwonzora mentioned.

“So, when it comes to part 328, if anyone needs to amend the clause that offers with the time period restrict, the modification should undergo the conventional processes however find yourself with the referendum.

This referendum is just a referendum with a referendum query on whether or not or not the presidential time period restrict needs to be prolonged.

Mwonzora who is without doubt one of the individuals who drafted the present structure along with Mnangagwa himself, mentioned to permit the incumbent to profit, a second, person-specific referendum can be required, asking voters if President Mnangagwa ought to be granted a 3rd time period.

“Notably, these referendums can’t be held inside six months of one another.

Mwonzora emphasised that the Constitution’s design makes it practically inconceivable to increase the presidential time period restrict.

“After that, assuming that the referendum succeeds, within the sense that folks vote for the modification, the clause goes on to say that the ensuing modification doesn’t profit the incumbent.

“So, if folks need the incumbent to profit, on this specific case, President Mnangagwa, then there have to be one other referendum during which the referendum query is just that ought to President Mnangagwa have a 3rd time period or not. It shall be an individual particular.

“Now, these referendums must not be within six months of each other. They must be more than six months of each other. So, it is almost an impossibility,” Mwonzora acknowledged.

Mnangagwa has, on a number of events, denied harbouring any plans to increase his time period of workplace, calling himself a constitutionalist. He mentioned the ruling Zanu-PF celebration will select his successor on the congress in 2027.

The President has additionally didn’t endorse his deputy Constantino Chiwenga as his successor. This has precipitated factionalism inside the celebration, with battle veterans allegedly backing Chiwenga.