Zimbabwe’s Senate has voted decisively in favor of controversial constitutional amendments, securing the parliamentary support required to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure until 2030. Following a similar success in the lower house on June 18, the bill received 75 votes in favor and four against during the recent Senate session presided over by Mabel Chinomona.
These changes, which critics have labeled a constitutional coup, would lengthen presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to replace direct presidential elections with a process where parliament selects the leader. The bill now heads back to the National Assembly for technical refinements before President Mnangagwa, who has led the Zanu-PF party since rising to power in 2017, signs it into law.
The opposition and human rights groups have condemned the move as an attempt to cement Zanu-PF’s dominance in a nation that has been under the party’s control since 1980. Reports from Human Rights Watch and various activists highlight ongoing concerns regarding intimidation, violence, and the suppression of dissent. Former senator David Coltart and other opposition figures argue that the constitutional changes require a national referendum, though officials maintain that public consultations have already demonstrated broad support for the plan.
While government representatives claim these measures will foster political stability, skeptics like journalist Hopewell Chin’ono suggest the bill effectively removes the possibility of a non-ruling party leader taking office in the near future. Despite legal challenges, including a recent dismissal of an opposition bid by the Constitutional Court, critics intend to continue fighting the amendments through the courts.
