HARARE – Amending the constitution to remove term limits and allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to run for office again would deepen Zimbabwe’s international isolation, MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has warned.
Zanu PF MPs have laid out plans to also extend the life of the current parliament.
“Zimbabwe is under international isolation. If we read the documents that established that isolation, ZDERA for example, and comments by the Commonwealth, we find out that one of the reasons we are under international isolation is the dearth of democratic practices,” Mwonzora told a news conference in Harare on Wednesday
“What this amendment will do is to cement Zimbabwe’s image as a pariah state. Zimbabwe will remain under sanctions and we think this is selfish on the part of those fighting for a third term.”
Mnangagwa has used several platforms, including an interview with CNN, to insist that he is a “constitutionalist” and will only serve the maximum two five-year terms.
But Mwonzora says his actions have betrayed him as the driving force behind the push to “desecrate the constitution” by removing term limits.
“In our view the president is indicating right while turning left. MPs want an additional unearned term because some of them are now unelectable. The claim that they have run the country so well Mnangagwa deserves a third term is not true. The commonman and the commonwoman are not experiencing any of this,” Mwonzora said.
Having participated in the drafting of the new constitution which came into effect in 2013, Mwonzora said the document “stands amongst the best in the world” and the imposition of term limits was a deliberate decision by Zimbabweans who did not want a repeat of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign.
“Our constitution is sacrosanct, and its integrity must be preserved,” Mwonzora said.
Mnangagwa has hosted a party for MPs at State House, given all MPs rice to distribute in their constituencies and last week invited them to his farm in Kwekwe. Mwonzora said these were the moves of someone orchestrating the term extension, rather than passively watching on as his loyalists push the agenda.
“They are sacrificing principles on the alter of individual gain,” he said.
“We are going to make preparations for a “No” vote during the referendum. In this case there will be two referendums, the first would be a question on whether the term should be extended or not. We will join forces with whoever wants to join forces with us to fight this third term which amounts to desecration of the constitution.
“There will be a second referendum because the constitution says that even if there is an extension of a term, that extension cannot benefit the incumbent. There would need to be that referendum this time specifically stating whether or not Mnangagwa must stand again. These two referendums must not be held within six months of each other.”
Mwonzora said Mnangagwa’s supporters were ignoring his age while pushing the country into dynastic politics.
“Let’s not ignore the biological issues. When his term ends, he will be 86. At the time the additional term ends he will be 91. Zimbabweans never voted in the constitution that they want to be ruled by geriatrics,” he said.
Zimbabweans are suffering from economic hardships made worse by overtaxation, low pensions and the raising of the pensionable age to 70, Mwonzora said.
“These are the issues our MPs must be grappling with. This parliament is the worst parliament in living memory. It’s time for other leaders,” he added.
