标签： Africa

Zimbabwe’s government has initiated a controversial constitutional overhaul that could permit President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030. The cabinet-approved draft legislation proposes fundamental changes to presidential elections, shifting from direct public voting to parliamentary selection while extending term limits from five to seven years.

The proposed constitutional amendments would establish a two-term maximum for presidents, potentially allowing the 83-year-old leader to extend his tenure beyond the scheduled 2028 expiration. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed that public consultations will precede parliamentary debate, though the ruling Zanu-PF party dominates both legislative chambers.

Legal scholars anticipate challenges to the proposed changes, noting that constitutional modifications affecting term limits require national referendums under existing law. Additionally, legal provisions explicitly prohibit amendments that benefit incumbent officials.

Mnangagwa, nicknamed “The Crocodile” for his political shrewdness, initially assumed power following the 2017 military coup that deposed long-time leader Robert Mugabe. His subsequent electoral victories in 2018 and 2023 faced substantial dispute from opposition groups and international observers.

The current push for extended governance echoes historical patterns in Zimbabwean politics. In 2013, citizens overwhelmingly supported term limits through a national referendum during Mugabe’s prolonged rule, which began at independence in 1980.

Mnangagwa’s political maneuvers have faced internal resistance, most notably from Blessed Geza, a respected independence war veteran and Zanu-PF central committee member. Before his recent death in South Africa, Geza had become a prominent critic, accusing Mnangagwa of nepotism and corruption while mobilizing social media followers against presidential extension efforts.

The government maintains that the proposed changes aim to strengthen governance structures and ensure political stability, particularly for implementing Mnangagwa’s “Agenda 2030” development program. Despite public rejection of extension proposals, presidential supporters have increasingly championed the “2030 he will still be the leader” slogan at party rallies.

In a significant ruling against alleged corruption, Zambia’s High Court has mandated the confiscation of assets valued at over $1.3 million from Dalitso Lungu, son of the late former President Edgar Lungu. The comprehensive forfeiture order encompasses 79 vehicles and 23 parcels of land and real estate holdings, including a shopping complex, fuel station, luxury apartments, and an executive residence situated in the capital city of Lusaka.

The court’s Economic and Financial Crimes Division determined that the 39-year-old Lungu and his corporate entity, Saloid Traders Limited, failed to present credible and verifiable evidence demonstrating lawful acquisition of these substantial assets. Judicial scrutiny of Lungu’s employment history revealed brief tenure at a Lusaka beverages company in 2012 followed by nearly three years at the Zambia Revenue Authority, with earned income deemed insufficient to justify such extensive property accumulation.

This ruling occurs against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions between the Lungu family and current President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration. The late President Lungu, who governed Zambia from 2015 until his 2021 electoral defeat, passed away in South Africa in June under undisclosed circumstances. His remains continue to be held in a Johannesburg funeral home amid protracted legal proceedings regarding repatriation and burial arrangements.

The asset forfeiture case represents the latest development in Zambia’s anti-corruption initiative that critics allege carries political motivations. In 2024, the High Court similarly ordered former First Lady Esther Lungu to surrender 15 flats valued at $3.5 million. Mrs. Lungu, remaining in South Africa since her husband’s death, recently filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein contesting the repatriation order for her husband’s remains, following unsuccessful attempts in lower courts.

Legal representatives for Dalitso Lungu have indicated their intention to appeal Monday’s ruling, continuing the complex legal battle that intersects with the nation’s political divisions and ongoing anti-corruption efforts.