HARARE, Zimbabwe (SCANS) — Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has approved draft constitutional amendments that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years and could allow him to remain in power until 2030.
The proposed changes, endorsed by cabinet this week, also include a provision to have the president elected by parliament instead of by direct popular vote. The bill would further allow the president to appoint 10 additional senators, increasing the Senate to 90 seats.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the draft legislation will be submitted to parliament’s speaker and published in the government gazette before lawmakers begin deliberations.
In a statement, cabinet said the amendments are intended to “enhance political stability and policy continuity” to ensure development programs are completed.
Mnangagwa, 83, is constitutionally required to step down in 2028 after serving two five-year terms. The proposed amendments come amid internal succession tensions within the ruling ZANU-PF.
Mnangagwa assumed office in 2017 after the military removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who had ruled the southern African nation since independence.
Opposition leaders have criticized the proposed reforms as an attempt to entrench Mnangagwa’s rule. The governing party has promoted what it calls a “2030 agenda,” a policy direction that opposition figures say threatens constitutional order.
Jameson Timba, a senior opposition figure, described the cabinet’s approval of the proposals as politically destabilizing. He said a coalition known as the Defend the Constitution Platform would consult lawyers and engage regional and international partners to challenge the amendments.
David Coltart, another opposition politician, said any constitutional amendment that extends an incumbent’s tenure should be subjected to a national referendum. He accused authorities of attempting to avoid such a vote.
Zimbabwe has been governed by ZANU-PF since independence from Britain in 1980. The party holds a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament and maintains significant influence in the Senate, giving it the numbers needed to amend the constitution.
Mnangagwa, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2023, has faced allegations from critics of corruption and human rights violations. The government denies wrongdoing.
Recent attempts by activists to protest the proposed changes have been met with police crackdowns that resulted in multiple arrests, according to rights groups.
