Never Over Stay Your Welcome

By Dr Masimba Mavaza

The concept of “president-for-life” appeals to some people. But for most of us, term limits are a welcome check on authority.
We now hear loyalists chanting one “one more term” at upcoming political events. But the President won’t take it seriously he is a constitutionalist and he said he is going to entrench constitutionalism in Zimbabwe.

Constitutionalism is a compound of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law.

Constitutionalism is descriptive of a complicated concept, deeply embedded in historical experience, which subjects the officials who exercise governmental powers to the limitations of a higher law.

Constitutionalism proclaims the desirability of the rule of law as opposed to rule by the arbitrary judgment or mere fiat of public officials … Throughout the literature dealing with modern public law and the foundations of statecraft the central element of the concept of constitutionalism is that in political society government officials are not free to do anything they please in any manner they choose; they are bound to observe both the limitations on power and the procedures which are set out in the supreme, constitutional law of the community. It may therefore be said that the touchstone of constitutionalism is the concept of limited government under a higher law

The Zimbabwean constitution does not give an option to serve a third term. After cde Robert Mugabe destroyed his legacy by overstaying we had believed that most will follow the example set by the constitution and will not try to stay in office for more than ten years.
South Africa’s Nelson Mandela famously kept his promise to serve only one term, despite public pressure to change his mind. He left his country still economically sound.

Some argue that term limits violate the will of voters who support their current leader and want the leader to continue, even if that would mean revising their country’s constitution. However, history has shown that term limits strengthen democratic institutions over the long term and help ensure peaceful political transition.
Zimbabwe has never had a smooth transition. Since independence we had one experience of one president until he was gently assisted to step aside and give in to new fresh ideas.

The developments the second dispensation has done will not have been feasible if there was no change of hands on the horns of mercy.
It should be noted that the term limits brings more advantages than disadvantaged.

In a peaceful power exchange the Incumbents are less able to use the state’s institutions to manipulate elections or erode the power of rival branches of government and political adversaries. There will be continuation of projects started by the outgoing.
When leaders know that they have a limited time they will feel more pressure to deliver results and leave office with a positive legacy.

It should be known that an Individual, no matter how powerful and popular, cannot become indispensable. What we must always remember is that change is very certain.

Political transitions are normal, regular, predictable events, so rival parties have little incentive to upset the system through coups or other means. It gives the one in power confidence to develop and work hard in the limited time to leave a legacy and build a seat for his name in the hall of fame.

The need to change leadership encourages a rising generation of political leaders, fresh ideas and possible policy changes.

It sounds like a paradox, but even as term limits prevent a popular president from remaining in office, they promote the healthy competition needed to strengthen democratic institutions and the democratic process.
As presidents approach the end of their constitutionally defined term in office, they face a number of difficulties, most importantly the deprivation of sources of power, personal enrichment, and protection from prosecution. This leads many of them to attempt to circumvent their term limits. This gives rise to both the reasons for the extension or full abolition of term limits, and failed attempts to do so. Key explanations include electoral competition and the post-term fate of previous post holders. What we do not know yet is how compliance with term limits may be tied to the current president’s expectations for their post-term fate. In particular, we do know that leaders who attempt to remove term limits and fail to do so jeopardize their post-term career as a result, and conversely, the leaders who comply will have better outcomes in terms of security, prestige, and economic gain. It is therefore true that the decision of a leader to comply or not comply with term limits is conditioned by the expectation of their post-term fate.

Our president has nothing to fear or nothing he is hiding and thus forcing him to extend his term only serves to spoil his legacy.