Zimbabwe Senate passes amendment extending president's term

Zimbabwe’s Senate has overwhelmingly approved constitutional amendments that will extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure until 2030 and fundamentally alter how the country’s leader is chosen. The upper house passed the bill on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, with 75 senators voting in favor and four against, giving the legislation the required two-thirds majority.

The changes now only require Mnangagwa’s signature to become law. The amendments extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, which will push the next scheduled election from 2028 to 2030. They also replace direct popular elections for president with a system of appointment by parliament.

The bill received full parliamentary backing after the lower house, the National Assembly, passed it on June 18 with 216 votes in favor and 42 against. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), which has held power since independence in 1980, commands a strong majority in both chambers.

Critics, including opposition figures, activists, and human rights lawyers, have labeled the changes a “constitutional coup.” They argue that extending presidential terms requires approval through a...