Zimbabwe’s Senate approves amendment extending presidential term

constitutional amendment will keep President Mnangagwa in office until 2030 and allow parliament to elect the president.Zimbabwe’s Senate has overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that will keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in office until 2030.According to Senate President Mabel Chinomona, the controversial amendments were passed on Wednesday after 75 senators voted in favour and four against extending the term for Mnangagwa, 83.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why are Nigeria-South Africa tensions rising amid xenophobic attacks?list 2 of 3Malawians and Nigerians flee South Africa amid xenophobic threatslist 3 of 3Zimbabwe’s climate migrants fear eviction as crackdown intensifiesend of listThe raft of sweeping changes, which critics have called a “constitutional coup”, includes a provision that extends presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.The bill also includes a provision for the president to be elected by parliament rather than by direct popular vote.With parliament’s backing, the bill now has to be signed by Mnangagwa to become law.Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe-african-national-union-patriotic-front" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="152108" data-entity-type="organization">Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party holds a strong majority in parliament and has ruled since independence in 1980.Last year, the ruling party resolved to change the constitution to prolong presidential terms, and the plan received cabinet backing in February.The bill then passed through the National Assembly last week, with 216 lawmakers voting in favour of the draft legislation and 42 against it.Mnangagwa came to power after a 2017 military coup ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who had been in power since independence in 1980.Still, the country’s opposition, which has been weakened by years of repression, charges that the measures would entrench ZANU-PF’s control over the country.Moreover, activists who have tried to mobilise in the country have reported intimidation and violence, including arrests or assault by suspected agents of the state.