| President of the Republic of Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|
| Mutungamiri weNyika ye Zimbabwe (Shona) | |
 Presidential Standard | |
| 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 (1980-04-18) |
| Deputy | Vice-President of Zimbabwe |
| Salary | US$200,000 annually (2014)[2] |
| Website | www |
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The President of Zimbabwe is the head of state and head of government of Zimbabwe. The president chairs the Cabinet and is the commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The office combines both executive and symbolic functions. The incumbent president is Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has held the office since 24 November 2017.[3]
History of the office
1980–1987: Ceremonial presidency
Following independence in 1980, Zimbabwe adopted the Lancaster House Constitution, which established a parliamentary system. The president served as head of state in a largely ceremonial role, while executive power was exercised by the Prime Minister. Canaan Banana became the first president and held the office until 1987.[4]
1987–2008: Executive presidency
In 1987, the Constitution was amended to create an executive presidency. The office of Prime Minister was abolished, and Robert Mugabe became the first executive president. This change significantly centralised power in the presidency. Mugabe was subsequently elected in 1990, 1996, and 2002.[5]
2008–2013: Power-sharing arrangement
Following the disputed 2008 general election, a power-sharing agreement was reached in 2009. The office of Prime Minister was restored, with Morgan Tsvangirai serving as Prime Minister alongside President Mugabe until the adoption of the 2013 Constitution.
2013–present
The 2013 constitutional referendum abolished the Prime Minister’s office and introduced a two-term limit for the president. Since the 2017 coup d'état and Mugabe's resignation, the office has been held by Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Constitutional powers and duties
The president exercises wide-ranging executive, ceremonial, and military powers under the 2013 Constitution (as amended). Key powers include:
- Chairing meetings of the Cabinet
- Appointing and dismissing Vice-Presidents, ministers, and deputy ministers
- Serving as commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces
- Assenting to or withholding assent from Bills passed by Parliament
- Declaring a state of public emergency (subject to parliamentary ratification)
- Appointing judges, ambassadors, and heads of key state institutions
- Representing Zimbabwe internationally and accrediting diplomatic envoys
The president also holds significant powers of appointment to constitutional commissions and security institutions.[6]
Election
The president is elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term using a two-round system. A candidate must secure more than 50% of the valid votes to win outright. If no candidate achieves this threshold, a runoff election is held between the two leading candidates.[7]
The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026 proposes replacing direct popular election with election by a joint sitting of Parliament.[8]
Term limits and succession
The 2013 Constitution introduced a two-term limit for the president. The limit does not apply retroactively to terms served before 2013.[9]
In the event of a vacancy in the presidency, the First Vice-President assumes office. If both the president and First Vice-President are unable to serve, the Second Vice-President assumes the presidency. A new president must then be elected within 90 days.[10]
Criticism and controversies
The presidency has been criticised for concentrating excessive executive power, particularly during the long tenure of Robert Mugabe. Critics have pointed to the extensive powers of appointment, limited parliamentary oversight, and the use of state institutions to maintain political dominance. [11]
More recently, the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026 has attracted significant criticism. Opponents argue that extending terms to seven years and shifting to parliamentary election of the president would weaken democratic accountability and potentially allow the incumbent to circumvent term limits.[12]
List of officeholders
| No. | Portrait | President | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Banana, CanaanCanaan Banana (1936–2003) | 18 April 1980 | 31 December 1987 | 7 years, 257 days | ZANU | 1980 (indirect) 1986 (indirect) |
| 2 |  | Mugabe, RobertRobert Mugabe (1924–2019) | 31 December 1987 | 21 November 2017 | 29 years, 325 days | ZANU–PF | 1987 (indirect) 1990 1996 2002 2008 |
| – | .jpg) | Mphoko, PhelekezelaPhelekezela Mphoko (1940–2024) Acting | 21 November 2017 | 24 November 2017 | 3 days | ZANU–PF | – |
| 3 | .jpg) | Mnangagwa, EmmersonEmmerson Mnangagwa (born 1942) | 24 November 2017 | Incumbent | 8 years, 214 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.[13][14][15][16]
Timeline
Rank by time in office
| Rank | President | Time in office |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Mugabe | 29 years, 325 days |
| 2 | Emmerson Mnangagwa | 8 years, 214 days |
| 3 | Canaan Banana | 7 years, 257 days |
See also
References
- "Zimbabweans hope for democratic rebirth". BBC News. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- Gumbo, Lloyd (22 April 2014). "President reveals monthly salary". The Herald. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- "Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe resigns, ending 37-year rule". BBC News. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- Allison, Simon (26 March 2013). "Even Zimbabwe's constitution waits for Mugabe to pass the baton, or pass away". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "State of the Zimbabwean Constitution and Constitutionalism in the Post-2017 Political Transition Era". Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026" (PDF). Veritas Zimbabwe. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026" (PDF). Veritas Zimbabwe. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "Zimbabwe cabinet backs bill that would extend Mnangagwa's rule till 2030". Reuters. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, 2026" (PDF). Veritas Zimbabwe. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "State of the Zimbabwean Constitution and Constitutionalism in the Post-2017 Political Transition Era". Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "Constitutional Court throws out war veterans' challenge to Mnangagwa term extension bill". NewZimbabwe.com. 17 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- "Mphoko is the Acting President for now". Bulawayo 24. 22 November 2017.
- "Experts clear the air on succession". The Herald. 22 November 2017.
- "Zimbabwe has 'phantom-like' acting president". News 24. 23 November 2017.
- "Where is Mphoko, legally the acting President?". The Zimbabwe Mail. 22 November 2017.