Zimbabwe Senate Approves Constitutional Changes That Could Extend Mnangagwa's Rule

Zimbabwe's Senate has approved controversial constitutional amendments that would delay the country's next presidential election, extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure , and change how future presidents are selected.

The bill passed by a vote of 75 to 4 and now awaits Mnangagwa's signature to become law. If enacted, it would postpone elections scheduled for 2028 until 2030 , effectively extending the 83-year-old president's term by two years. The reforms would also increase presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and replace direct presidential elections with a system in which lawmakers choose the president.

Supporters in the ruling ZANU-PF party argue the amendments are constitutional because the existing two-term limit would remain unchanged. Critics, including opposition figures, activists and legal experts, contend that extending presidential terms requires approval through a national referendum .

The proposals have intensified political tensions, with opponents alleging harassment, arrests and intimidation of critics. Several legal challenges to the amendments are pending before Zimbabwe's courts.

Mnangagwa has led Zimbabwe since 2017 , when a military-backed intervention removed longtime ruler Robert Mugabe from power. Although Mnangagwa previously said he would step down when his second term ends in 2028, his party has strongly backed the constitutional changes.

Analysts say the reforms could have significant implications for Zimbabwe's democratic institutions and electoral credibility by reducing voters' direct role in choosing the country's leader. The developments are also being closely watched across Africa, where debates over presidential term limits and constitutional amendments have frequently raised concerns about democratic backsliding and the concentration of executive power.

The legislation marks one of the most significant political reforms proposed in Zimbabwe since the end of Mugabe's rule.