Zimbabwe’s Senate on Wednesday approved constitutional amendments that would remove direct presidential elections, delay the next one, and extend the tenure of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose signature is the final step for them to become law.
Seventy-five senators voted in favour of the bill that would postpone elections scheduled for 2028 to 2030 and extend President Mnangagwa’s term by two years.
Four senators opposed the measure, with some lawmakers from the opposition joining ruling party colleagues in backing the changes.
The bill overhauls the way presidents are chosen, replacing direct popular elections with selection by lawmakers. It also extends the terms of the president and members of parliament to seven years from five.
Divided over referendum
Some quarters, including those in the opposition, argue that extending presidential terms requires approval through a referendum.
Mnangagwa’s supporters counter the argument, saying that parliament can enact the changes because the constitutional two-term limit would remain intact, even if each term is longer.
Mnangagwa, 83, has been in power since 2017, when the military backed the ouster of Zimbabwe’s longtime leader, Robert Mugabe, who died in 2019.
Zimbabwe’s lower house overwhelmingly voted for the bill last week.
