Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe has submitted a bill to parliament that seeks to extend the term of President Emmerson Mnangagwa by two additional years, ending in 2030 instead of 2028. This move has drawn criticism from the opposition and some veterans of the liberation war.
The bill is considered one of the most sensitive political maneuvers in Zimbabwe since Mnangagwa came to power in 2017, following the ousting of the late President Robert Mugabe.
Mnangagwa was originally expected to leave office in 2028 after two presidential terms, but the proposed amendment opens the door for an additional two-year extension.
The bill does not only extend the term but also includes a change in the method of selecting the president, proposing that the president be elected by parliament rather than through direct popular vote.
If this amendment is approved, it will alter the nature of the presidential electoral system in the country and strengthen the role of parliament, which is dominated by the ruling ZANU-PF party.
The bill is expected to pass relatively easily in parliament, given that the ruling party holds a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly and dominates the Senate. However, it faces criticism from the opposition and some veterans and former military figures, who argue that the amendment undermines the essence of political turnover and deepens the crisis of constitutional legitimacy.
This move comes at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with a chronic economic crisis, including inflation, currency weakness, unemployment, and declining investor confidence. The debate over extending Mnangagwa’s term is also intertwined with broader questions about the future of governance and political stability in the country.
