Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF has endorsed a proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure by two years, a move that could keep the 83-year-old leader in power until 2030.

The decision was adopted on Saturday at the party’s annual conference in the eastern city of Mutare, where delegates directed the government to begin drafting legislation to amend the Constitution, according to Justice Minister and ZANU-PF legal secretary, Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Under the current Constitution, Mnangagwa is expected to leave office in 2028 after completing his second and final term. Legal experts note that any change would require a constitutional amendment, and possibly a national referendum.

Delegates reportedly erupted in applause when the motion passed, reaffirming ZANU-PF’s dominance in Zimbabwe’s political landscape since independence in 1980. With the party controlling a majority in parliament, the amendment faces little legislative resistance, though insiders warn it could trigger legal challenges.

Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 after the ouster of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe, has previously described himself as a “constitutionalist” with no interest in extending his rule. However, loyalists within the party have been pushing for an extension since last year’s disputed election.

The move has deepened tensions within ZANU-PF, where factions aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga reportedly oppose the extension. One of Chiwenga’s allies, liberation war veteran Blessed Geza, has condemned the plan in YouTube livestreams that have drawn thousands of viewers.

Despite scattered calls for mass protests, opposition mobilisation remains limited amid heavy police deployment in Harare and other major cities.

Mnangagwa made no reference to the proposed extension during his closing remarks at the conference, and Chiwenga has not publicly commented.

Critics warn the development marks another step toward authoritarian consolidation. “We will defend the Constitution against its capture and manipulation to advance a dangerous, unconstitutional, anti-people agenda,” opposition lawyer Tendai Biti said on X.

The political turmoil unfolds against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s deepening economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, widespread unemployment, and persistent allegations of corruption and human rights abuses.

Authorities on Friday arrested ten elderly activists, mostly in their 60s and 70s, for allegedly planning protests demanding Mnangagwa’s resignation. They have been charged with incitement to public violence and remain in custody pending a bail hearing on Monday.

Analysts say the renewed manoeuvring highlights a growing power struggle within ZANU-PF: one faction seeks to keep Mnangagwa in power until 2030, while another is quietly preparing for Chiwenga’s possible succession.