Linda Masarira Endorses Presidential Term Extension As Political Tension Reaches Boiling Point – Eduzim News

Tinashe Sambiri– Linda Masarira has publicly supported the proposal to extend presidential and parliamentary terms in Zimbabwe, urging citizens and political actors to debate the controversial issue with logic rather than emotion.

In a statement released on Sunday, the president of Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) weighed in on the ongoing national debate surrounding Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, which has sparked intense discussion across the political landscape.

Masarira said the conversation around the proposed constitutional changes had quickly descended into partisan conflict instead of thoughtful national reflection.

“Zimbabwe once again finds itself standing at a constitutional crossroads following the introduction of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3. As has become common with many governance debates in our country, the national conversation has rapidly degenerated into political shouting matches rather than thoughtful reflection about the long-term future of the nation,” Masarira said.

She added that constitutions should not be viewed as rigid or untouchable documents but rather as frameworks that must evolve with society.
“Constitutions are not sacred relics carved in stone. They are living governance instruments meant to evolve alongside the societies they serve,” she said.

Masarira noted that constitutional amendments are a normal process worldwide, but warned that any changes must be carefully evaluated to ensure they strengthen democracy and improve governance.

“Any proposed amendment must be interrogated through one central question: does it strengthen democracy and improve governance for citizens, or does it merely serve narrow political interests?” she said.

The proposed amendment has triggered debate over several provisions, including extending presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, altering the process for electing the president, abolishing the Gender Commission, transferring certain electoral responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Registrar-General’s Office, and establishing a new delimitation body.

Masarira said the proposal to extend the presidential and parliamentary term to seven years had become one of the most contentious elements of the bill.

“Zimbabwe has for decades existed in what can only be described as a permanent election cycle. Every five years the nation descends into a prolonged period of political contestation that destabilizes the economy, polarizes communities, and diverts national attention away from development,” she said.

According to Masarira, repeated election cycles often slow down national development programs and discourage investment.
“During these cycles, infrastructure programs slow down or stall, investors adopt a wait-and-see attitude, and public institutions become increasingly politicized,” she said.

She argued that a longer electoral cycle could help create stability and allow governments to focus on long-term development.

“When examined from a governance perspective rather than through reflex political suspicion, longer electoral cycles can offer important advantages. A seven-year term could provide governments with sufficient time to implement long-term development policies, stabilize national planning frameworks, and focus on the rehabilitation of critical institutions,” Masarira said.

She also pointed to the challenges facing key national systems such as healthcare, education, state-owned enterprises, and public utilities.

“Zimbabwe is currently grappling with the deterioration or collapse of several key national systems, including public healthcare, education infrastructure, state-owned enterprises, energy and water utilities, and transport networks,” she said.

Masarira concluded by saying her party believes extending the electoral cycle could create the stability needed for national reconstruction if democratic safeguards remain intact.

“For this reason, Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats believe that extending the electoral cycle to seven years could potentially create the policy stability required for national reconstruction, provided that constitutional term limits remain intact and democratic safeguards are preserved,” she said.

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