The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is pushing for a constitutional amendment that could potentially allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend his presidency by at least two additional years. This amendment comes amid growing debates over 'lawfare' in African politics, where legal tools are manipulated to prolong governance beyond typical democratic norms. The campaign, termed ED2030, has been present within the party for several years, despite Mnangagwa's previous public denials of any intention to pursue it.

On February 16, the Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi officially gazetted Constitutional Amendment No 3, which aims to modify key aspects of Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution. One of the critical changes proposed in this amendment is to replace direct presidential elections with parliamentary ones, effectively increasing the ruling party's control over the election process and potentially diminishing the role of voters in selecting their leader. This move is likely to face resistance from both within and outside the ZANU-PF, uniting opposition forces against the perceived constitutional coup.

The implications of such an amendment are profound, as it touches upon the core principles of democratic governance in Zimbabwe. Should the ZANU-PF successfully implement these changes, it might set a precedent for similar actions in other African nations, perpetuating a cycle of undermining constitutional democracy through legal means. Observers are now closely watching how this situation develops and whether the proposed changes spark further political mobilization or resistance among Zimbabweans and political factions.