Zimbabwe's Cabinet Backs Constitutional Changes to Extend Presidential Terms to Seven Years
Harare, 11 February 2026
President Emmerson Mnangagwa could remain in power until 2030 under draft legislation approved by Zimbabwe’s cabinet on 9 February. The proposed constitutional amendments would extend presidential terms from five to seven years and allow parliament, rather than voters, to elect the president. At 83, Mnangagwa is currently set to step down in 2028 after two five-year terms. Opposition leaders condemn the move as politically destabilising, with constitutional experts arguing a referendum is required for such changes. The ruling ZANU-PF party holds the parliamentary majority needed to amend the constitution, continuing its unbroken rule since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.
Cabinet Approval and Legislative Framework
Zimbabwe’s cabinet approved the draft constitutional amendments on Tuesday, 9 February 2026, following months of political manoeuvring within the ruling party [1][2][3]. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi announced that public consultations would precede the bill’s parliamentary debate, with the legislation set to be sent to the speaker of parliament and published in the official gazette [1][3]. The proposed changes extend beyond term limits, including provisions for the president to appoint ten additional senators, increasing the Senate from its current size to 90 seats [2]. The cabinet justified these sweeping constitutional modifications by stating they would ‘enhance political stability and policy continuity to allow development programmes to be implemented to completion’ [2].
Opposition Response and Legal Challenges
Constitutional experts and opposition leaders have mounted immediate resistance to the proposed amendments, arguing that changes affecting an incumbent’s tenure require a referendum under Zimbabwe’s legal framework [1][2]. David Coltart, an opposition politician, emphasised that ‘any amendment which has the effect of extending an incumbent’s tenure should be subjected to a referendum’, adding that the government ‘will do all in their power to prevent a referendum from happening’ because they know ‘they will fail’ [2]. Jameson Timba, a senior opposition leader, described the cabinet’s approval as ‘politically destabilising’, whilst the Defend the Constitution Platform announced on 9 February 2026 that it would immediately consult lawyers and brief regional and international partners to oppose the changes [2][3].
Political Context and Parliamentary Arithmetic
ZANU-PF’s commanding parliamentary position makes constitutional amendments procedurally straightforward, as the party has maintained a two-thirds majority in the lower house and overwhelmingly controls the upper house through traditional leaders and other proxies [2][3]. The ruling party has governed Zimbabwe continuously since independence from Britain in 1980, providing institutional continuity that supporters argue justifies the constitutional changes [2][3]. Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017 following a military coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe, subsequently winning presidential elections in 2018 and being re-elected in 2023 [1][2][3]. The timing of these constitutional proposals coincides with an ongoing succession battle within ZANU-PF over who would replace Mnangagwa when his current term expires in 2028 [3].
Recent Political Developments and Opposition Voices
The constitutional push has occurred against a backdrop of intensified political tensions, with attempts to demonstrate against extending Mnangagwa’s term meeting police crackdowns in the months leading up to February 2026 [2]. A significant opposition voice was silenced when Blessed Geza, a vocal critic of President Mnangagwa, died on 7 February 2026 in South Africa, just days before the cabinet’s approval [1]. Hours before his death, Geza’s social media accounts urged Zimbabweans to remove President Mnangagwa from power [1]. Andrease Ethan Mathibela, national chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, commemorated Geza by stating: ‘At a time when silence would have been easier, he chose to speak out against corruption and nepotism that continue to undermine the promise of independence’ [1]. Geza had previously accused Mnangagwa of nepotism and apologised for helping him come to power, leading to his expulsion from ZANU-PF for disloyalty and forcing him into hiding [1].