HARARE — Zimbabwe’s lower house of parliament has passed a significant constitutional amendment bill that extends presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and abolishes direct presidential elections. The move effectively ensures that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will remain in office until at least 2030.
A Major Constitutional Shift
During Thursday's session, the bill secured 216 votes in favor comfortably surpassing the two-thirds majority of 187 required to amend the constitution. Forty-two lawmakers voted against the measure.
Under the new provisions:
• Term Extension: Presidential and parliamentary terms are extended from five to seven years.
• Direct Elections Scrapped: Future presidents will no longer be chosen through direct popular vote but will instead be elected by parliament.
• Delayed Elections: Parliamentary elections originally scheduled for 2028 will be pushed to 2030.
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where its passage is widely expected, before reaching President Mnangagwa’s desk for final enactment. On Wednesday, the country’s Constitutional Court dismissed a legal challenge aimed at blocking the bill, clearing the path for its progression.
Political and Legal Controversy
The ZANU-PF party, which has held power since 1980, championed the amendments as necessary measures to ensure national stability and policy continuity. However, the plan has triggered intense backlash from opposition parties, civil society organizations, and legal experts.
Critics argue that these changes circumvent the 2013 Constitution, which explicitly limits a president to two terms and mandates that any extension of such limits must be approved by voters in a national referendum. Many activists have labeled the move as "democratic backsliding," warning that removing the direct mandate of the people significantly weakens accountability.
Mnangagwa’s Tenure
President Mnangagwa, 83, rose to power in 2017 following the ousting of Robert Mugabe and subsequently secured victories in the 2018 and 2023 elections. While he initially positioned himself as a reformer committed to economic recovery and constitutionalism, his presidency has faced sustained criticism over disputed electoral results, economic instability, and concerns regarding the erosion of democratic norms.
As Zimbabwe prepares for a Senate vote, the passage of this bill marks one of the most consequential shifts in the country’s post-independence political landscape, sparking a renewed national debate over the future of democratic governance in the nation.
