SONA 2025: Will Mnangagwa announce laws to extend his term of office?

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to present the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and table the agenda for the third session of the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe tomorrow, 28 October 2025.

The legislative agenda is a list of laws that government intends to bring to Parliament for amendment and enactment to ensure they speak to the desires and aspiration of the constitution and the ruling party.

There is therefore much anticipation in the streets that among a raft of legislations that will be announced by Mnangagwa tomorrow (28 October 2025), he might include laws to extend the duration of his current five-year term, inline with resolution number 1 from the Zanu PF People’s Conference held recently in  Mutare.

Zanu PF, resolved that the term of of office for the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe be extended beyond 2028 to 2030 (by 2 years), and went further to direct the Minister of Justice to ensure that this resolution is fully implemented before the 23rd National People’s Conference (which will happen next year 2026).

However, there have been a lot of debate on social media on whether adding two extra years is the same as changing the term limit or not, and whether or not the amendment would require a referendum.

Besides the term limit issue, there are a lot of Bills that are also being anticipated such as the Youth Bill which has long been coming, and there is also the bill on devolution which has been lacking since 2013.

Several Bills that are already under discussion in Parliament are expected to make it back to the house together with new ones.

In his address, in October last year (2024), President Mnangangwa announced about 26 pieces of legislation for the second session of the 10^th Parliament. However, little progress has been made with ministers being accused of making no-shows in Parliament to push through the agenda.

Dzivarasekwa legislator Edwin Mushoriwa is on record complainging about lack of progress on Bills due to adsent ministers.

Notable progress was recorded on the Persons with disabilities Amendment Bill which was sent to the President for assent, the PVO Bill which was enacted, the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill which was enacted and the Parks and wildlife management Bill whose draft Act was sent to counsel of Parliament, among others.

In previous years, opposition legislators have boycotted the event and there is currently no clarity or indications that they might abscond this year’s edition.