President of Zimbabwe

Head of state and of government in Zimbabwe

President of the
Republic of Zimbabwe

Mutungamiri weNyika ye Zimbabwe (Shona)

Presidential Standard

Incumbent
Emmerson Mnangagwa

since 24 November 2017

Office of the President of Zimbabwe
Executive branch of the Zimbabwean Government
Style| His Excellency
(Formal, in international correspondence)
Comrade President
(Informal)
Type| Head of state
Head of government
Commander-in-chief
Residence| State House
Appointer| Popular vote
Term length| Five years,[1]
renewable once
Constituting instrument| Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013)
Inaugural holder| Canaan Banana
Formation| 18 April 1980; 45 years ago (1980-04-18)
Deputy| Vice-President of Zimbabwe
Salary| US$200,000 annually (2014)[2]
Website| www.theopc.gov.zw

Politics of Zimbabwe

Constitution

* Constitutional history
* Human rights

Government

* President

Emmerson Mnangagwa
* Vice-President

Constantino Chiwenga
Kembo Mohadi
* Cabinet

Legislature

* Parliament

Senate

President
National Assembly

Speaker
Constituencies

Judiciary

* Supreme Court

Elections

* General

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2013 2018 2023

* Referendums

2000 2013

* Electoral Commission
* Political parties

Administrative divisions

* Provinces
* Districts
* Wards

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Minister: Frederick Shava

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Zimbabwe

* * *

* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* v
* t
* e

The president of Zimbabwe is the head of state and head of government of Zimbabwe. The president chairs the national cabinet and is the chief commanding authority of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The incumbent president is Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was installed on 24 November 2017 after his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, resigned in the aftermath of the 2017 coup d'état.

## History of the office

[edit]

See also: President of Rhodesia and President of Zimbabwe Rhodesia

The office of the president of Zimbabwe was established in 1980, when the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. Per the Lancaster House Agreement, Zimbabwe was originally a parliamentary republic, with the president serving in mostly a ceremonial role. Real power was vested in the prime minister, Robert Mugabe.

A Methodist minister, Canaan Banana, became the first president, serving until 1987. He resigned in 1987 shortly after the Constitution was amended to make the presidency an executive post, and the office of Prime Minister was abolished. Mugabe was appointed to succeed him, and was elected in his own right in 1990 and four more times thereafter.

The office of Prime Minister was restored as a result of the 2008–09 political negotiations, but abolished again following the 2013 constitutional referendum. Under the rules adopted by the same referendum, the president serves a maximum of two five-year terms.[1] This did not have a retroactive effect on past terms of office already served or currently being served as of 2013.[3] As of 2021, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The term limit has not been met by any president yet.[4] Repealing the two-term limit would require a referendum (and allowing an incumbent to benefit from the amendment would require a separate referendum).[5] Emmerson Mnangagwa, the incumbent president, has ruled out seeking a third term.[6] At its 21st National Conference ZANU–PF unanimously voted to extend Presidential terms, however this would require two separate constitutional amendments.[7] Mnangagwa has also rejected extending his second term.[8]

### 2017 coup d'état and Mugabe's resignation

[edit]

Main article: 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état

On 14 November 2017, armed military personnel from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces invaded the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation studios in Harare before Major General Sibusiso Moyo came out on a live television broadcast declaring that the army had activated an operation that would later be known as "Operation Restore Legacy." Moyo stated that President Mugabe and his family would be safe and their security would be guaranteed, as the operation was only targeting criminals around him. What followed thereafter was a well-planned and carefully executed crackdown on members of a faction within the ruling ZANU-PF party known as G40. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Central Intelligence Organisation, both deemed loyal to the president, were neutralised by the army, which arrested some of their top leaders.

On 21 November 2017, facing all-but certain impeachment from a combined session of the House of Assembly and Senate, Mugabe resigned as president. Former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as his replacement on 24 November 2017.

## List of officeholders

[edit]

No. | Portrait  | President | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Election

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Banana, CanaanCanaan Banana
(1936–2003)| 18 April 1980| 31 December 1987| 7 years, 257 days| ZANU| 1980 (indirect)
1986 (indirect)

| Mugabe, RobertRobert Mugabe
(1924–2019)| 31 December 1987| 21 November 2017| 29 years, 325 days| ZANU–PF| 1987 (indirect)
1990
1996
2002
2008

| Mphoko, PhelekezelaPhelekezela Mphoko
(1940–2024)
Acting| 21 November 2017| 24 November 2017| 3 days| ZANU–PF| –

| Mnangagwa, EmmersonEmmerson Mnangagwa
(born 1942)| 24 November 2017| Incumbent| 7 years, 263 days| ZANU–PF| 2018
2023

Phelekezela Mphoko was the second (and only sitting) vice-president at the time of Mugabe's resignation on 21 November 2017. Mphoko may have been acting president of Zimbabwe for three days until Mnangagwa's accession to the presidency. However, as Mphoko was not in the country at the time, and due to the unusual circumstances, any official standing on this is unclear and may never be known.[9][10][11][12]

## Timeline

[edit]

## Rank by time in office

[edit]

Rank  | President  | Time in office

|
|

1  | Robert Mugabe | 29 years, 325 days
2  | Canaan Banana | 7 years, 257 days
3  | Emmerson Mnangagwa | 7 years, 263 days

## Latest election

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Zimbabwean general election

Emmerson Mnangagwa ran for election in 2023 as the ZANU–PF candidate.[13] Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the main opposition party MDC-T, died in 2018 and was replaced by Nelson Chamisa. Chamisa ran as the MDC Alliance candidate against Emmerson Mnangagwa. Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected without the need for a runoff, winning 50.8% of the vote to Chamisa's 44.3%. The election result was disputed by the MDC Alliance.

## See also

[edit]

* List of heads of state of Zimbabwe
* Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
* Vice-President of Zimbabwe
* President of Rhodesia
* President of Zimbabwe Rhodesia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Zimbabweans hope for democratic rebirth". BBC News. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
2. ^ Gumbo, Lloyd (22 April 2014). "President reveals monthly salary". The Herald. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
3. ^ Allison, Simon (26 March 2013). "Even Zimbabwe's constitution waits for Mugabe to pass the baton, or pass away". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
4. ^ Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
5. ^ "ED2030 push: 'We'll fight tooth and nail'". NewsDay. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
6. ^ "Mnangagwa: I'm Not Seeking Third Term". Voice of America. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
7. ^ Staff Reporter (26 October 2024). "Zanu PF passes resolution to allow Mnangagwa to extend term to 2030". Zimbabwe News Now. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
8. ^ Okafor, Chinedu (27 October 2024). "Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa rejects ruling past the legal limit". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
9. ^ "Mphoko is the Acting President for now". Bulawayo 24. 22 November 2017.
10. ^ "Experts clear the air on succession". The Herald. 22 November 2017.
11. ^ "Zimbabwe has 'phantom-like' acting president". News 24. 23 November 2017.
12. ^ "Where is Mphoko, legally the acting President?". The Zimbabwe Mail. 22 November 2017.
13. ^ "Zanu-PF reveals Mnangagwa as 2018 presidential candidate". The Zimbabwean. AFP. 19 November 2017.

* v
* t
* e

Presidents of Zimbabwe and its antecedents

Rhodesia
(1965–1979, an unrecognised state)|

* Clifford Dupont
* Henry Everard*
* John Wrathall
* Henry Everard*
* Jack Pithey*
* Henry Everard*

Zimbabwe Rhodesia
(1979, an unrecognised state)|

* Josiah Zion Gumede

Zimbabwe
(since 1980, a recognised state)|

* Canaan Banana
* Robert Mugabe
* Emmerson Mnangagwa

*Acting President

* v
* t
* e

Zimbabwe articles

1890–1923: Company rule; 1923–1980: Southern Rhodesia; 1953–1963: Federation; 1965–1979: Rhodesia under UDI; 1979: Zimbabwe Rhodesia under UDI; 1980–present: Zimbabwe

History|

| Chronology|

* Pre-colonial
* Rudd Concession
* Company rule
* Pioneer Column
* First Matabele War
* Shangani Patrol
* Second Matabele War
* Second Boer War
* First World War
* Southern Rhodesia
* colonial history
* Second World War
* Rhodesia-Nyasaland federation
* Malayan Emergency involvement
* Unilateral Declaration of Independence
* Rhodesia
* Bush War
* 1975 Victoria Falls Conference
* 1976 Geneva Conference
* Internal Settlement
* Zimbabwe Rhodesia
* Lancaster House Agreement
* Gukurahundi
* 2008–2009 cholera outbreak
* 2016–2017 protests
* 2017 coup d'état
* 2019 fuel protests

|

By topic|

* Constitutional
* Cricket (to 1992)
* Cricket (1992-2006)
* Cricket crisis (2003-2007)
* Military

Geography|

* Chimanimani District
* Cities and towns
* Districts
* Great Zimbabwe
* Place name renaming
* Provinces
* Rivers
* Wards (municipalities)
* Wildlife

Politics|

* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Capital punishment in Zimbabwe
* Human rights
* LGBT rights
* Land reform
* Military
* Parliament
* Political parties
* Heads of State
* Presidents
* Vice-President
* Prime Minister
* 2007 political crisis
* Zimbabwe and the Commonwealth of Nations

Economy|

* Central bank
* Zimbabwean bond coins
* Zimbabwean bond notes
* Dollar (suspended currency)
* Zimbabwean dollar (2019–2024)
* Zimbabwe Gold
* Stock exchange
* Telecommunications
* Tourism
* Transportation

Culture|

* Abortion
* Architecture
* Art
* Child marriage
* Human trafficking
* Media
* Music
* Polygamy
* Prostitution
* Public holidays
* Sport in Zimbabwe
* Zimbabwe at the Commonwealth Games

Demographics|

| Ethnic groups
(diaspora)|

| Black|

* Kunda
* Lemba
* Manyika
* Ndebele
* Rusape Jews
* Shona
* Tokaleya
* Tonga

|

White|

* Afrikaners
* British
* Greeks
* Portuguese

Others|

* Coloureds (Goffals)
* Jews
* Indians

Languages|

* Afrikaans
* English
* Shona
* Sindebele

Symbols|

* Animal
* Anthem
* Coat of arms
* Emblem
* Flag
* Flower

* Outline
* Index

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Heads of state and government of Africa

Heads of state|

| UN member states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

|

Other states|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Heads of government|

| UN member states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

|

Other states|

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Defunct states
and governments|

* Ashanti Empire
* Monarch
* Benin
* Prime Minister
* Burundi
* King
* Central African Empire
* Emperor
* Dahomey
* King
* Egypt
* Muhammad Ali dynasty
* Monarch
* Ethiopia
* Emperor
* list
* The Gambia
* Prime Minister
* Ghana
* Prime Minister
* Kenya
* Prime Minister
* Kingdom of Kongo
* Monarch
* list
* Malawi
* Prime Minister
* Merina Kingdom
* Monarch
* Nigeria
* Prime Minister
* Orange Free State
* State President
* Rwanda
* King
* South African Republic
* State President
* South Africa
* Governor-General
* State President
* Prime Minister
* Tunisia
* Bey
* Zanzibar
* Sultan
* Prime Minister
* Zambia
* Prime Minister
* Zimbabwe
* Prime Minister
* Zulu Kingdom
* King

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