Zimbabwe’s parliament has voted through a constitutional amendment that could keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in office until 2030, pushing through a change that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years.
The National Assembly passed the bill with 216 votes, comfortably above the two-thirds majority needed. It now goes to the Senate, where approval is expected given the influence of ZANU-PF.
If it becomes law, the shift would carry Mnangagwa past 2028, when his current term ends, and reset the country’s political calendar.
Support for the move has been building inside the ruling party for some time. At rallies, chants backing a longer stay in office have become common, and ZANU-PF has already signed off on the constitutional change. Cabinet approval followed earlier this year.
Critics say the amendment is about keeping power concentrated at the top. Supporters argue it is needed to steady governance and give long-term plans room to take effect.
Mnangagwa, who took power in 2017 after the removal of longtime leader Robert Mugabe, now faces the prospect of an extended stay in office.
Court challenges to the plan were dismissed this week on procedural grounds, removing one of the last immediate hurdles.
– Reporting by Reuters
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