Tanzanian leader, John Magufuli, has reportedly rejected calls to extend his rule beyond the constitutional limit of two, five-year terms, Reuters reports.

This is unlike Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi), who have all ‘reviewed’ their constitutions to extend their rule.

At a public rally in the coastal Tanzanian town of Tanga on Monday, a member of parliament from the ruling CCM party called for an extension of the president’s rule to at least 20 years.

“It’s impossible. I will respect the constitution,” he said.

“I have sworn to defend the constitution… I shall play my part and pass on the leadership reins to the next president when the time comes.”

Magufuli was elected in October 2015 for his first term and he has not indicated whether he will seek re-election at the next poll in 2020.

Former president, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, from the ruling CCM party, who himself served only terms in 1985-1995, first publicly raised the idea in June.

“If it wasn’t for term limits, I would have suggested that Magufuli should be our president for eternity,” Mwinyi said.