Zimbabwe Cabinet Backs Draft Bill to Extend Presidential Terms

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved draft legislation that would amend the constitution to lengthen presidential terms from five to seven years and change how the president is elected moving from a direct public vote to selection by members of parliament. The proposal has immediately raised legal questions, with constitutional experts warning that changing term-limit provisions may require a referendum and may not legally benefit a sitting president.

Under the proposed changes, presidents would serve a maximum of two seven-year terms, replacing the current two five-year terms. While supporters frame the move as a governance and stability measure, critics view it as part of a broader political push that could keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa whose current term ends in 2028 in office beyond that date.

What the draft law proposes

According to reporting published Tuesday, the draft bill approved by cabinet would:

• Extend presidential terms from five years to seven; and

• Change the election method, with presidents chosen by MPs rather than through a direct national vote.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the government would first hold public consultations before the bill goes to parliament for debate an important step in a process that is likely to become politically charged, given that both chambers of parliament are dominated by the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Why legal challenges are likely

Legal experts have repeatedly argued that any attempt to alter term-limit effects could trigger constitutional hurdles including a possible need for a referendum particularly if a change is seen as extending or effectively resetting a sitting president’s mandate. Zimbabwe’s constitution introduced term limits under the 2013 framework, adopted by referendum at a time when Robert Mugabe’s hold on power appeared entrenched.

A central legal question is not only how the constitution can be amended, but also who can benefit from those amendments. Analysts have pointed to provisions and principles that could prevent changes from applying to an incumbent in a way that extends their time in office.

Political backdrop: succession, party pressure, and “2030” slogans

Mnangagwa, 83, came to power in 2017 after the military intervention that ended Mugabe’s decades-long rule. He won elections in 2018 and again in 2023, though the 2023 result was disputed by opponents. His current term is scheduled to end in 2028.

Pressure for an extension has also played out inside Zanu-PF. In late 2025, the party publicly signaled support for efforts that could keep Mnangagwa in office until 2030, with reporting at the time describing internal factional tensions tied to succession politics.

The BBC report notes that chants and slogans promoting a “2030” continuation have circulated at party events in recent years, often linked by supporters to Mnangagwa’s “Agenda 2030” development programme though he has previously rejected calls to extend his rule.

The death of a prominent internal critic

The political landscape has also shifted with the reported death of Blessed Geza, also known as “Bombshell,” a liberation war veteran and former Zanu-PF central committee member who became a vocal critic of efforts to keep Mnangagwa in power beyond 2028.

Reporting indicates Geza had built a significant following online, where he posted messages calling for protests and accusing the president of nepotism and corruption. He had been expelled from Zanu-PF and was forced into hiding before later being reported in South Africa, where his family announced his death.

What happens next

For now, the proposal remains a draft cabinet-backed, but not yet enacted. The next milestones include consultations, formal publication, and parliamentary debate. Given the sensitivity of constitutional amendments and the high stakes involved, the process is expected to draw scrutiny from civil society, opposition parties, and legal experts, and could face court challenges depending on how the bill is structured and advanced.

The government has framed the initiative as an effort to strengthen governance and promote political stability. Whether the proposal survives legal tests and whether it ultimately changes Zimbabwe’s electoral model will depend on the details of the bill, the legislative pathway, and potential constitutional requirements for voter approval.