Zimbabwe President signs amendment extending term to 2030

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law a sweeping constitutional amendment that extends his current term by two years and fundamentally alters the country's political system. The president assented to the legislation on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, formalizing changes that push the next general election from 2028 to 2030 and replace direct presidential elections with an appointment by parliament.

The package of reforms, known as Constitutional Amendment No. 3, extends both presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years. A senior official from the information ministry, Nick Mangwana, confirmed the enactment on social media, declaring the legislation "signed, sealed and delivered." The changes were driven by Mnangagwa's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), which holds a commanding majority in parliament. The bill passed the National Assembly on June 18 and was endorsed by the Senate shortly after, easily meeting the two-thirds majority required for constitutional changes.

The amendments have triggered sharp criticism from opposition figures, civil society, and some legal experts, who argue the reforms erode democratic...