Mnangagwa approves constitutional overhaul scrapping direct presidential elections

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law sweeping constitutional amendments that extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, allowing him to remain in office until 2030.

The changes, contained in the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act No. 3, 2026, were published in a special government gazette on Tuesday after approval by both houses of Parliament.

The amendments, which critics have described as a “constitutional coup”, were passed by a Parliament dominated by the ruling ZANU–PF party and its allies.

Parliament approves controversial constitutional changes

The National Assembly approved the changes by 226 votes to 41 on June 30 after the Senate had endorsed the bill 75 votes to four on June 24.

Under the new law, Mnangagwa’s second and final constitutionally permitted term, which was due to end in 2028, will now run until 2030.

The amendments also remove direct presidential elections, a system introduced in 1987, replacing them with a parliamentary vote by MPs and Senators sitting jointly after every general election or when a presidential vacancy occurs.

Constitutional changes: Direct presidential elections scrapped

The new law removes direct presidential elections, a system introduced in 1987, replacing them with a parliamentary vote by MPs and Senators sitting jointly after every general election or when a presidential vacancy occurs.

A presidential candidate will need more than half of the votes cast by lawmakers to win.

If no candidate secures a majority, the top two contenders will face a second round, with the process administered by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Human rights lawyer Doug Coltart warned that the changes could create a situation where presidents continue receiving new mandates through Parliament without returning to voters.

“Lawmakers could continually renew their own mandate without ever returning to the electorate,” Coltart said.

Opposition condemns amendments as threat to democracy

Opposition figures and civic groups have also strongly criticised the amendments.

Former opposition MP Fadzayi Mahere said the move represented a major setback for Zimbabwe’s democracy.

“Today is a dark, dark day for our nation,” Mahere wrote on X, describing the country’s democracy as having “breathed its last”.

Constitution Defenders Forum leader Tendai Biti accused the government of shifting political power away from citizens and towards a small group of elites.

“These amendments shift power and control to the few,” Biti said, arguing that democracy had been “commodified”.

Mnangagwa, 83, came to power in 2017 after a military intervention that removed long-serving leader Robert Mugabe, who had ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years.

The constitutional changes are now expected to intensify debate over Zimbabwe’s democratic future and the role of elections in determining political leadership.