By News24

President Cyril Ramaphosa met his Zimbabwean counterpart, Emmerson Mnangagwa, on a visit to the latter’s farm on Sunday amid a contentious constitutional amendment, which would allow Mnangagwa to serve as president longer than his country’s constitution permits.

Ramaphosa was believed to have landed at an airport in Harare on Sunday, before he was whisked away in a presidential helicopter to Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm, according to reports from Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa is seeking the constitutional amendment to extend his term limit by two years beyond 2028, citing post-Covid-19 economic recovery and regional geopolitics.

But his detractors, such as the country’s war veterans, have accused him of entrenching Zanu PF rule and betraying his anti-Mugabe reform promises.

The proposal sparked protests from war veterans and the Citizens Coalition for Change, resulting in a brutal security crackdown, the return of Western sanctions, and economic collapse.

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According to the report on Ramaphosa’s visit, which Zimbabwe’s presidential spokesperson responded to on X, the two presidents were accompanied by Zimbabwean businessmen Wicknell Chivhayo and Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Ramaphosa will also likely be concerned about growing xenophobic sentiments directed at Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals, with the March and March lobby group ramping up anti-foreigner messaging in recent days.

Speaking to News24 on Sunday evening, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that Ramaphosa had gone to Zimbabwe to see Mnangagwa.

He said: “It was just an in-person catch-up between two neighbours to discuss issues of mutual and bilateral interests.”

Pressed for more details, Magwenya said: “I’m not at liberty to get into the details of the discussions.”

In a statement on Sunday night, the Presidency said the two neighbouring leaders discussed “issues of mutual and bilateral interests”.

“South Africa and Zimbabwe maintain a historical, political and dynamic trade relationship. In 2025, South African exports to Zimbabwe totalled about U$4.30 billion, with agricultural products and machinery dominating the majority of traded goods.”

HE President @CyrilRamaphosa earlier today, undertook a working visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe for an engagement with his Zimbabwean counterpart, HE President Emmerson Mnangangwa, to discuss issues of mutual and bilateral interests.

South Africa and Zimbabwe maintain a… pic.twitter.com/DZID0gEYpK

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 3, 2026