Media, Constitutionalism, and Democracy in Zimbabwe: An Analysis of the Political Narratives on Presidential Term Extension

Media plays a crucial role in constitutionalism and democracy. Research on the linkages between these concepts is critical, especially in the postcolonial African context, where presidential term limits and the subversion of constitutional mandates to extend or abolish such limits remain a persistent challenge. This paper draws on framing theory to investigate the contested political narratives regarding Zimbabwe's proposed extension of the Presidential term. It analyses how media shapes political discourses by examining newspaper articles from Zimbabwe's leading newspapers. Findings reveal that state-controlled media narratives reflect a deep-seated state capture of public discourse, while private narratives offer a critical perspective, though often biased towards the opposition. This paper suggests that media frames are not just discursive devices but tools of elite justification. The paper advocates for a critical re-evaluation of media independence and legal reform to protect democratic institutions from elite capture and manipulation of discourse.