Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law the Third Constitutional Amendment, a controversial reform that extends his second term by an additional two years, until 2028.
The amendment also increases the term of members of Parliament from five to seven years. The reform has been strongly criticized by civil society organizations and several members of ZANU-PF, the ruling party since 1980, who describe it as an attempt to further consolidate presidential power. Critics argue that it violates the spirit of the Constitution and undermines the country’s democratic principles. One of the amendment’s key provisions abolishes the direct popular election of the president. Under the new system, the head of state will be elected by members of Parliament. The amendment also expands the president’s powers by allowing him to appoint ten additional senators, increasing the total number of members in the upper house from 80 to 90. Another major change transfers responsibility for voter registration from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Office of the Registrar General. In addition, a new Delimitation Commission will be established to redraw electoral boundaries. The reform also removes public hearings from the judicial appointment process, raising concerns about the independence of the judiciary. According to several critics, these constitutional changes should have been submitted to a referendum, as required under Zimbabwe’s Constitution.