80 Duty of President to uphold Constitution It is the duty of the President to obey, uphold and defend this Constitution and to ensure that the provisions of this Constitution and of all other laws in force in Zimbabwe are faithfully observed. 81 Qualifications and disqualifications for election as President (1) A person qualifies for election as President if he or she is– (a) a citizen of Zimbabwe by birth or descent; (b) a registered voter; and (c) at least forty years old. (2) A person is disqualified for election as President if he or she has already held office as President after the appointed day for two terms as defined in section eighty-four. (3) The period served in the office of President pursuant to an election in terms of section 92 is not to be taken as a term of office for purposes of disqualifying a person from election as President in terms of subsection (2). 82 Election of President (1) Except in the circumstances set out in section ninety-two, the President is directly elected by registered voters throughout Zimbabwe and the procedure for that election is as described in the Electoral Law. (2) The qualifications for registration as a voter and for voting at an election of a President are set out in the Third Schedule. (3) The election of a President must take place concurrently with every general election of Members of Parliament and members of the governing bodies of Local Authorities. 83 Assumption of office by President (1) A person elected as President assumes office on the day he or she is declared to be elected. (2) Before exercising any of the functions of office, a person elected as President must take the oath or affirmation of a President in the appropriate form set out in the First Schedule. (3) A person who has been elected as President, and all public officers concerned, must take all possible steps to ensure that he or she takes the oath or affirmation of a President within forty-eight hours after he or she was declared to be so elected. 84 Tenure of office of President The term of office of the President shall be a period of five years concurrent with the life of Parliament referred to in section 143; or (a) a lesser period where the President earlier dissolves Parliament in terms of section 143; or (b) a longer period where the life of Parliament referred to in section 143 is extended under section 143(2) or (3) in which event the term of office of the President shall terminate on the expiration of such lesser or longer period, as the case may be: - 41 -