{"id":4654,"date":"2026-02-12T22:16:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T22:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/zimbabwe-opposition-alleges-constitutional-coup"},"modified":"2026-02-12T23:20:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T23:20:54","slug":"zimbabwe-opposition-alleges-constitutional-coup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/policy\/zimbabwe-opposition-alleges-constitutional-coup","title":{"rendered":"Zimbabwe Opposition Alleges \u201cConstitutional Coup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>Zimbabwe\u2019s opposition forces accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s government of carrying out what they described as a \u201cconstitutional coup,\u201d after the cabinet approved controversial amendments that would extend the presidential term and change how the head of state is chosen.<\/p>\n

The amendments approved by the cabinet would extend the presidential term to seven years and abolish direct nationwide presidential elections, making parliament the body empowered to select the president. They would also grant Mnangagwa the authority to appoint ten additional members to the Senate.<\/p>\n

This move follows an earlier decision by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union\u2013Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) to keep Mnangagwa in power for two additional years after his term ends in 2028, under what is known as the \u201cAgenda 2030.\u201d<\/p>\n

The opposition said these amendments amount to an attempt to circumvent the constitution. Prominent opposition politician Job Sikhala said what is happening is \u201ca coup by the president to remain in power against the will of the people,\u201d adding that Mnangagwa is seeking, \u201cin a dictatorial manner,\u201d to extend his rule until 2030.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Jameson Timba, a leader in the Citizens\u2019 Coalition for Change, accused the president of using \u201cofficial procedures\u201d to entrench his power without direct approval from the people. Writing on X, he said what is happening \u201cis not constitutional reform, but a constitutional coup.\u201d<\/p>\n

For its part, the National Democratic Group led by Sikhala called on the African Union to intervene, arguing that \u201csilence in the face of an ongoing coup in a member state is unacceptable.\u201d It said activists opposing the amendments are facing crackdowns and mass arrests. Reports indicate that attempts to protest the \u201cAgenda 2030\u201d plan were met with a strict security campaign that resulted in dozens being jailed.<\/p>\n

Political background<\/b><\/p>\n

Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 following a military coup that ousted late president Robert Mugabe after 37 years in office. He was subsequently elected in 2018 and again in 2023, but he faces allegations of corruption and curbs on democratic freedoms, while ZANU-PF has remained dominant since the country\u2019s independence in 1980.<\/p>\n

Opponents argue that the latest amendments are intended to guarantee the ruling party\u2019s continuity and its control over state institutions, under the banner of \u201cpolitical stability and policy continuity,\u201d as stated in a government communique\u0301.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. Zimbabwe\u2019s opposition forces accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s government of carrying out what they described as a \u201cconstitutional coup,\u201d after the cabinet approved controversial amendments that would extend the presidential term and change how the head of state is chosen. The amendments approved by the cabinet would extend the presidential term to seven years and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":4652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-4654","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-policy","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\nZimbabwe Opposition Alleges \u201cConstitutional Coup - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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