ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa says any decision on whether President Emmerson Mnangagwa should remain in office beyond 2028 rests solely with the President, stressing that leadership longevity is ultimately a personal choice informed by experience.
Mutsvangwa was responding to a question on whether individuals pushing for an extension of Mnangagwa’s tenure — commonly referred to as “persuaders” — could succeed in convincing the President to stay on beyond the constitutional limit.
“It’s a personal decision. It’s him,” Mutsvangwa said, emphasizing that the matter lies entirely with Mnangagwa himself.
He added that the President is fully aware of the effects prolonged leadership and advanced age can have, drawing from his experience during the final years of the late former President Robert Mugabe’s administration.
“He saw what old age can do to a leader when he was Vice President in the First Republic. So he must be very conscious in his mind about at what time one should go or not go,” Mutsvangwa said.
The ZANU PF spokesperson described Mnangagwa as a seasoned political figure who has endured decades in Zimbabwe’s political arena.
“He is a very intelligent man. He has been long in the trenches, surviving. Those who are against Zimbabwe actually wonder how he has survived to eventually be where he is today. So he’s gone through it all,” he said.
Debate over President Mnangagwa’s political future has intensified amid ongoing discussions around possible constitutional amendments and election cycle adjustments. The Zimbabwean Constitution currently limits a president to two five-year terms, with Mnangagwa expected to complete his final term in 2028.
While some ruling party supporters have publicly floated ideas of extending his stay in office, government officials have repeatedly stated that proposed constitutional changes relate to electoral cycles rather than presidential term limits.
Political analysts say Mutsvangwa’s remarks signal an attempt to balance internal party debates while reinforcing the constitutional position that the decision ultimately lies with the incumbent president.
