Zimbabwe Enacts Constitutional Changes Extending President Mnangagwa's Time in Office

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 7, 2026 - Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law a constitutional amendment introducing sweeping electoral reforms, including postponing the next general elections to 2030 and extending the terms of the president and parliament. The legislation, approved by Parliament in June, extends presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and replaces direct presidential elections with a system in which the head of state is elected by members of Parliament. The changes also postpone elections that had been scheduled for 2028, allowing Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030. The reforms have drawn criticism from opposition parties, civil society organizations, human rights groups, and some veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle, who argue that changes affecting the presidency should be approved through a national referendum. Supporters of the amendment contend that Parliament acted within its constitutional authority because the existing two-term presidential limit remains in place, with only the duration of each term being altered. The constitutional changes come amid ongoing political debate in Zimbabwe, where several legal challenges have been filed seeking to overturn the reforms. Mnangagwa has served as president since 2017, following the removal of longtime leader Robert Mugabe from office.