Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved draft legislation that would reshape the presidency and could allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend his rule until 2030, senior officials said Tuesday.
The proposals would shift the election of presidents from a direct popular vote to selection by members of parliament and lengthen presidential terms from five to seven years. Under the draft, presidents could serve a maximum of two seven‑year terms.
- Advertisement -
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the government plans public consultations before the bill is introduced to parliament. He framed the draft as part of a broader effort to “strengthen governance and stability,” according to a cabinet statement. Supporters argue the changes would provide continuity and reduce the frequency of costly national campaigns.
Critics and constitutional lawyers warned the draft would amount to a significant rollback of democratic gains and questioned its legality. Several legal experts said amending presidential term limits requires a referendum under Zimbabwe’s constitution and that any change should not be structured to benefit a sitting president.
Mnangagwa, 83, became head of state after the 2017 coup that forced longtime leader Robert Mugabe from power. The president is currently due to leave office in 2028 under the existing timetable. The cabinet’s move follows sustained speculation — denied publicly by Mnangagwa — that he seeks to extend his time in office.
The draft raises immediate political and legal questions. Switching to a parliamentary selection process would concentrate influence in the legislature and inside the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU‑PF), which controls a majority of seats. Extending term length and allowing an incumbent to benefit from new limits would likely prompt constitutional challenges and fuel opposition protests.
Opposition parties and civil society groups have already signaled alarm. While some analysts say the proposals could be debated through ordinary parliamentary channels, others expect pushback at home and scrutiny from regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community, which has previously criticized constitutional backsliding in member states.
Justice Minister Ziyambi’s pledge of public consultations sets the next formal step in a process that could move quickly once the cabinet endorses a bill. How those consultations are conducted, whether a referendum will be required and how courts interpret the constitution will determine whether the draft advances, is altered, or is struck down.
As the country watches, the stakes are both immediate and structural: the legislation would not only affect Mnangagwa’s political future but also the balance between popular voting rights and parliamentary authority in Zimbabwe’s still-fragile democratic framework.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
