Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a bill to extend the presidential term from five to seven years, which would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in power until 2030. The bill, tabled by the justice minister, received overwhelming support with 218 lawmakers voting in favor, surpassing the required 187-vote threshold. This legislation also extends the terms of Members of Parliament, councilors, and mayors by two years.
The proposal, dubbed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill (CAB3), has heightened political tensions within the country. Critics view it as a maneuver for Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 after a military-backed ousting of Robert Mugabe, to prolong his rule. Activists and war veterans have launched court challenges against the plan, though these were struck off the court roll for technical reasons.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass given the ruling ZANU-PF party's control. While some clauses of CAB3, such as those related to the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and chiefs' involvement in partisan politics, faced opposition and were amended or dropped, the core amendment to extend term limits for the president and other elected officials remained. During parliamentary debate, 139 out of 182 lawmakers who contributed were positively disposed towards the bill, despite strong criticism from opposition legislators.
The extension of presidential terms reflects a trend seen in other African countries like Cameroon and Uganda, where leaders have altered laws to remain in power longer. The shift from a five-year to a seven-year term effectively defers elections due in 2028 by two years.
