Legislative Changes Advance in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's lower legislative body has approved a bill proposing significant changes to the nation's presidential term limits. The legislation, which passed with more than two-thirds majority, seeks to extend the presidential term from five to seven years. If enacted, this amendment could enable President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose current second term is scheduled to conclude in 2028, to remain in power until 2030.
The draft legislation also includes provisions to abolish direct presidential elections, shifting the responsibility for selecting future presidents to parliament. On Thursday, 216 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, exceeding the 187 votes required for a constitutional amendment. Forty-two members of parliament voted against it.
Background and Implications
President Mnangagwa, 83, assumed office in 2017 following the removal of long-time leader Robert Mugabe. He subsequently won contested elections in 2018 and 2023. The proposed constitutional changes represent the culmination of efforts by the ruling Zanu-PF party, which has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. The plan received cabinet endorsement in February, despite President Mnangagwa previously identifying as a constitutionalist and pledging to uphold term limits.
Key provisions of the amendment include:
- Elimination of direct presidential elections, which have been held since 1990.
- Empowerment of parliament to elect the next president.
- Extension of both parliamentary and presidential terms from five to seven years.
- Postponement of parliamentary elections from 2028 to 2030.
- Extension of President Mnangagwa's tenure until 2030.
Opposition parties, civil society organizations, and legal experts have voiced concerns, arguing that such fundamental constitutional alterations should be subject to a national referendum rather than parliamentary approval alone. A new constitution adopted in 2013 had stipulated that any extension of presidential term limits would require voter endorsement in a referendum, and that a sitting president could not benefit from such an extension without a second referendum.
Initially perceived by some as a reformer, President Mnangagwa's tenure has been characterized by economic difficulties, contentious elections, and growing concerns regarding democratic principles. The latest constitutional amendments have intensified national debate, with critics warning of potential weakening of democratic accountability, while proponents argue for continuity and stability.
The bill is now slated for review by the Senate, where its approval is anticipated before it proceeds to the president for enactment. A legal challenge aimed at blocking the bill was dismissed by the country's Constitutional Court earlier in the week.
Source: Zimbabwe MPs pass bill to extend president's time in power