Zimbabwe is facing intensifying political backlash after the ruling Zanu-PF party advanced controversial constitutional reforms that would scrap direct presidential elections and extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure, according to the BBC. The proposals build on developments previously analysed in Africa Briefing’s earlier report on efforts to keep Mnangagwa in power.
The proposed changes mark a major shift in Zimbabwe’s political system, transferring the power to elect the president from voters to parliament. Critics warn the move risks entrenching executive control, weakening democratic accountability, and reinforcing a wider pattern of constitutional engineering across Africa.
Draft legislation under consideration would fundamentally alter Zimbabwe’s electoral framework. According to the BBC, the reforms would:
Scrap presidential elections, which have been held since 1990
Extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years
Delay elections scheduled for 2028 to 2030
Allow Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030
Transfer the power to elect future presidents to parliament
If passed, the bill would mark one of the most consequential constitutional changes since Zimbabwe adopted its 2013 constitution, which introduced presidential term limits and sought to curb executive overreach.
Opposition warns of ‘slow coup’
Opposition leaders have condemned the proposals, framing them as a deliberate attempt to consolidate power ahead of the next electoral cycle.
‘This is a coup, a slow coup that is unfolding in Zimbabwe,’ opposition politician Tendai Biti told the BBC.
Critics argue the reforms undermine protections introduced in 2013, including provisions requiring a referendum for changes affecting presidential tenure. They warn that extending term lengths without direct voter approval weakens constitutional safeguards and could open the door to further extensions. The proposals are already facing legal scrutiny, including a Constitutional Court challenge brought by Zimbabwean veterans.
Zanu-PF defends reform
Zanu-PF has rejected claims of democratic backsliding, arguing that the reforms are aimed at ensuring political stability and reducing election-related violence.
Party spokesman Patrick Chinamasa told the BBC that shifting to a parliamentary system would be ‘less costly’ and ‘less controversial’, adding that presidential elections have historically triggered disputes and unrest.
Supporters of the bill argue that allowing parliament to elect the president could stabilise governance and reduce tensions associated with highly contested national votes.
Violence and repression claims
Public hearings on the proposed changes have exposed deep political divisions. At a recent session in Harare, supporters of the reforms dominated proceedings, while critics reported intimidation and disruption.
According to the BBC, clashes broke out when dissenting voices attempted to speak, with incidents including pushing, confiscation of phones, and pressure on journalists to delete footage.
Opposition groups also say authorities have restricted mobilisation, with several meetings reportedly banned in the run-up to the hearings. Some leaders have alleged arrests and assaults, claims the ruling party denies.
A return to centralised power?
For critics, the reforms signal a possible return to the centralised governance associated with former president Robert Mugabe, whose 37-year rule was marked by accusations of authoritarianism.
Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 following a military-backed transition and later won disputed elections in 2018 and 2023, has positioned himself as a reformer. However, opponents argue the proposed changes risk reversing earlier democratic gains.
‘They are making the mistake that Mugabe made,’ Biti told the BBC, warning that shrinking democratic space could have lasting consequences.
Zimbabwe’s proposed overhaul reflects a wider pattern across the continent, where constitutional amendments and leadership extensions have reshaped political transitions.
From Uganda and Rwanda to parts of the Sahel, debates over term limits and electoral systems continue to test institutional resilience. Analysts say Zimbabwe’s trajectory is likely to influence similar debates elsewhere, particularly in countries facing pressure over leadership succession. This trend is reflected in Africa-wide findings on public trust in electoral systems, as well as broader patterns of democratic erosion across the continent.
