Zimbabwe Senate Approves Controversial Bill to Extend President Mnangagwa’s Rule

Zimbabwe’s Senate has approved a controversial constitutional amendment bill that could keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in power until 2030, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. The legislation received overwhelming support in the upper chamber after previously passing the National Assembly, giving it full parliamentary approval.

The proposed amendments would extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five years to seven years, effectively delaying the next general election from 2028 to 2030. The reforms would also replace direct presidential elections with a system in which lawmakers elect the president.

Supporters of the bill argue that the changes will promote political stability and improve governance. However, critics have described the move as a threat to democratic principles, accusing the ruling ZANU PF party of attempting to consolidate power around the 83 year old president.

Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 following the removal of former President Robert Mugabe, has previously stated that he would step down at the end of his current term. Nevertheless, opposition groups, civil society organisations, and some legal experts have raised concerns about the implications of the constitutional changes and are expected to challenge the amendments in court.

The bill now awaits President Mnangagwa’s signature to become law, a move that could reshape Zimbabwe’s electoral system and extend his stay in office beyond the current constitutional timeline.