10/02/2026
Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved a new bill that could significantly change the country’s Constitution and extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule until 2030. If this bill becomes law, it would introduce several major and controversial changes, including:
📌Presidential terms would be increased from five years to seven years, which could allow President Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.
📌The term of office for both the President and Members of Parliament would also be extended from five years to seven years.
📌The President would no longer be elected directly by Zimbabwean voters through national elections, but instead would be elected by Parliament.
📌If a sitting president dies, resigns, or is removed from office, Parliament would choose the next president, rather than the Vice President automatically taking over.
📌Responsibility for voter registration and managing the voters’ roll would be moved from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Registrar-General.
📌The Constitution would also be amended to change how the role of the Defence Forces is described. Instead of stating that the military must “uphold” the Constitution, it would say they must act “in accordance with” the Constitution, a change that critics argue weakens the military’s constitutional duty.
📌If the amendments are approved, chiefs and village heads would be allowed to openly support and get involved in politics.
📌 The Bill would remove public interviews when appointing judges. This means judges could be selected without the process being open to the public, which may reduce transparency and accountability in the justice system.
