The Zimbabwean Cabinet has formally approved a draft constitutional amendment that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s stay in office until at least 2030. The move, announced on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, seeks to extend presidential terms from five to seven years and fundamentally alter how the nation’s leader is chosen.
Under the proposed bill, direct popular elections for the presidency would be abolished in favor of a system where Parliament, currently dominated by the ruling ZANU-PF party, selects the head of state. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi stated that the changes are necessary to “enhance political stability and policy continuity,” allowing the 83-year-old Mnangagwa to complete his “Agenda 2030” development programs.
The announcement has sparked immediate outrage among opposition leaders and legal experts. Critics argue that the 2013 Constitution explicitly prevents a sitting president from benefiting from an extension of term limits. Jameson Timba, a prominent opposition figure, described the move as “politically destabilizing,” while civil society groups have warned that any change to term limits must be subjected to a national referendum—a vote they believe the government is trying to avoid.
The bid to prolong Mnangagwa’s rule, nicknamed the “2030 agenda,” has reportedly caused internal friction within ZANU-PF, as a succession battle continues between Mnangagwa’s loyalists and factions tied to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Despite the President’s previous claims that he is a “constitutionalist” who would step down in 2028, this legislative push signals a determined effort to consolidate power.
This development represents a critical juncture for the country’s democracy. As the bill heads for a 90-day public consultation period before reaching Parliament, observers warn of a “painful struggle” ahead for those seeking to protect the country’s constitutional safeguards against lifelong rule.
