Zimbabwe cabinet approves plan to extend Mnangagwa's rule till 2030

"Zimbabwe's cabinet backed draft legislation that would change the constitution to extend presidential terms from five years to seven, allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in office until 2030. Other proposed changes in the bill presented to the cabinet on Tuesday include a provision that the president be elected by parliament rather than through a direct popular vote. list of 4 itemsend of list Others include allowing the president to appoint 10 more senators, boosting the Senate to 90 seats."

"Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told a news conference the bill will be sent to the speaker of parliament and published in an official gazette before lawmakers consider it. A cabinet statement said the amendments passed would enhance political stability and policy continuity to allow development programmes to be implemented to completion. Mnangagwa, 83, is currently meant to step down in 2028 after serving two five-year terms, and there has been a succession battle in the governing ZANU-PF party over who will take over."

"He came to power after the military ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe in 2017, and opposition politicians have condemned moves by his party to extend his time in office. The governing party's 2030 agenda had been on the cards for months before it was announced as the party position, prompting opposition figures to pledge to defend the constitution against its capture."

Zimbabwe's cabinet backed draft legislation to amend the constitution, extending presidential terms from five to seven years and potentially allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in office until 2030. The bill would change the presidential election method to a parliamentary vote and increase the Senate to 90 seats by allowing the president to appoint ten additional senators. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the bill will be sent to the parliamentary speaker and published in the official gazette before lawmakers consider it. The cabinet said the amendments would enhance political stability and policy continuity. Opposition figures criticized the moves and pledged legal and regional challenges.

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