Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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Zimbabwe's National Assembly has passed a controversial constitutional amendment bill that would extend presidential terms from five years to seven years, a move that could allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030. The bill secured 216 votes, comfortably surpassing the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments. It now heads to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass due to the dominance of the ruling ZANU-PF party.
The proposed legislation would postpone elections currently scheduled for 2028 by two years (upto 2030)and lengthen the terms of the president, Members of Parliament, mayors and councillors from five to seven years. Supporters argue the changes will promote political stability, reduce election costs and allow for longer-term development planning.
The amendment is designed to keep Mnangagwa in power beyond his current mandate. Opposition figures, civil society groups and some veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle have opposed the proposal, warning that it could undermine democratic governance and weaken citizens' ability to directly choose their leaders.
The bill also contains provisions that would fundamentally change Zimbabwe's electoral system by replacing direct presidential elections with a parliamentary vote to select the country's leader. Critics argue that such a major constitutional change should be subjected to a national referendum rather than being decided solely by Parliament.
Mnangagwa, 83, came to power in 2017 following the military-assisted removal of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe. If the bill becomes law and survives any legal challenges, his current term could be extended from 2028 to 2030. Some analysts have also raised concerns that the constitutional changes could open the door to further extensions of his rule in the future.
The development has reignited debate across Africa about constitutional amendments that extend the tenure of long-serving leaders, with critics pointing to similar changes previously seen in several countries on the continent.
Source: BBC, Nile post UG
