Zimbabwe's cabinet has approved draft legislation that could enable President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 83, to remain in office until at least 2030, marking a significant shift in the country's constitutional framework. The proposed changes would alter the way presidents are elected and extend the length of presidential terms. Under the proposals, future presidents would be elected by Members of Parliament rather than through a direct popular vote. The draft bill also seeks to replace the current five-year term with a seven-year term, allowing a maximum of two such terms.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said public consultations would precede the bill's submission to parliament for debate. Both chambers of parliament are dominated by the ruling Zanu-PF party, raising expectations that the legislation could pass if formally tabled.
However, legal challenges are widely anticipated. Constitutional experts argue that any alteration to presidential term limits would require a national referendum. They also contend that amendments of this nature cannot legally benefit a sitting president.
Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 following a military intervention that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe, secured an election in 2018 and won a second term in 2023, though the latter result was disputed by the opposition. Nicknamed “the crocodile” for his political shrewdness, his current and final five-year term is due to end in 2028.
The debate over term limits is especially sensitive in Zimbabwe, where voters overwhelmingly backed a new constitution 13 years ago, introducing presidential term limits. The reforms were adopted at a time when Mugabe, who had ruled since independence in 1980, appeared firmly entrenched in power.
Speculation about Mnangagwa’s intention to remain in office beyond 2028 began circulating two years ago. At Zanu-PF rallies, supporters chanted the slogan "2030 he will still be the leader", arguing that he needed more time to complete his "Agenda 2030" development programme. Mnangagwa has publicly distanced himself from the calls.
The push for an extended tenure has also exposed divisions within Zanu-PF. Mnangagwa’s most prominent internal critic, Blessed Geza, widely known as "Bombshell", died last week, intensifying the succession debate.
Geza, a veteran of the 1970s liberation war and former member of Zanu-PF’s central committee, had last year launched a fierce attack on the president’s alleged ambition to extend his rule. He apologised for backing Mnangagwa’s rise to power and accused him of nepotism in his bid to remain in office beyond 2028. Expelled from the party for disloyalty, Geza went into hiding but continued to mobilise support online, calling for protests. Hours before his death, a message on his social media accounts urged Zimbabweans to carry forward the "noble war" to remove President Mnangagwa and "end the plunder of our country".
Despite the controversy, the government maintains that the draft law is intended to strengthen governance and ensure political stability. Authorities say the reforms form part of broader efforts aligned with Mnangagwa’s long-term development vision, even as critics warn they risk undermining constitutional safeguards.
