Zimbabwe’s cabinet on Tuesday approved major constitutional changes that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure until 2030, sparking fierce criticism from opposition leaders and civil society. The 83-year-old Mnangagwa, who seized power in a 2017 military-backed coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, is currently serving his second five-year term, having been re-elected in 2023. Under the proposed amendments, the presidential term would increase from five to seven years, and parliament—not the electorate would select the president. The bill will undergo legal review before being published and introduced to parliament, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said. Opposition politicians and analysts argue that such amendments require a two-thirds parliamentary majority and a national referendum, raising fears that the ruling Zanu-PF will bypass democratic processes. Attempts to protest the “2030 agenda” have faced police crackdowns, with dozens arrested.
Additional provisions include expanding the Senate from 80 to 90 seats, allowing the president to appoint ten more senators. Cabinet officials claim the changes will “enhance political stability and policy continuity.” Critics call them a direct assault on Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitutional limit of two five-year presidential terms and warn the reforms risk triggering political unrest. The move comes amid Zimbabwe’s economic crisis, marked by hyperinflation, widespread unemployment, and allegations of corruption. Democracy advocates, including Professor Lovemore Madhuku, warn that the country could face a “painful struggle” if the amendments proceed without a referendum.
