Zimbabwe’s main opposition party said it won’t stand in the way of calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend his tenure an extra two years, until 2030.
A referendum would have to be held for Mnangagwa to serve beyond his second and final term, which ends in 2028. The president in October declined a request by his party, the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front — which has ruled the country since independence in 1980 — to extend his time in office.
But tacit support from Sengezo Tshabangu, leader of the opposition in parliament and a Citizens Coalition for Change lawmaker, could bolster the ruling party’s case.
“If we approve your stay in power and the people of Zimbabwe are happy, let it be,” he said during a visit to Mnangagwa’s farm 218 kilometers (135 miles) from the capital, Harare.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of 37 non-governmental organisations, said it is deeply concerned by discussions to defer the vote.
“Some segments of the opposition have begun to align with the ruling party in advocating for an extension, raising questions about the motivations behind such a shift and its impact on democratic processes,” the group said Monday in an emailed statement.
