Mnangagwa Takes Secret Belarus Trip, Misses Malaba Farewell

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe departed for Belarus on May 13, 2026, on an undisclosed trip that resulted in his absence from a scheduled farewell dinner for Chief Justice Luke Malaba.

The 83-year-old Zanu PF leader left Harare late Wednesday without the customary official ceremonies, such as sirens or the presence of ministers, to accompany his departure. The farewell event for Chief Justice Malaba took place on the evening of May 14, 2026, at a hotel in Harare.

Official Representation at Farewell Event

Vice President Kembo Mohadi served as the guest of honor at the dinner. Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana stated that Mohadi attended on behalf of… Mnangagwa. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was also in attendance and delivered a speech during the event.

Presidency spokesman George Charamba did not respond to inquiries regarding the president’s travel.

Pattern of Undisclosed Travel

A senior government source told ZimLive that this was not the first instance of the president leaving the country without public ceremony. The source indicated that Mnangagwa had previously conducted similar trips to Belarus, departing late at night and returning in the early morning after several days.

The president is known to maintain close ties with Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Constitutional Amendment Debate

The president’s departure comes as the Zimbabwean parliament prepares to debate the Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Bill. This proposed legislation seeks to extend the president’s second and final term, which is currently scheduled to end in 2028, to 2030.

Beyond the extension of the presidency, the bill proposes the following changes:

• An extension of the parliament’s term by two years.
• The removal of the direct election of the president, proposing instead that the president be voted into office by members of parliament.

Legal experts and critics have challenged the proposed amendments, arguing that such significant changes to the constitution cannot be implemented without a referendum. These critics assert that an incumbent president cannot legally benefit from such changes.