On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's cabinet approved significant constitutional amendments that would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, aged 83, to extend his tenure until the year 2030. This decision comes amid a backdrop of political turmoil, following Mnangagwa's rise to power in a military coup that dethroned long-serving leader Robert Mugabe in 2017. The changes proposed would extend the presidential term from five to seven years and shift the selection of the president from the electorate to Congress, a move that many view as a consolidation of power by Mnangagwa's ruling Zanu-PF party.

The legislative amendments have sparked fierce backlash from opposition leaders, who advocate for a national referendum on the matter to ensure that any changes to such significant constitutional matters have the consent of the Zimbabwean populace. Critics argue that the proposed reforms only serve to entrench the ruling party's control and disregard the voice of the electorate, particularly given the current political landscape where Zanu-PF holds a majority in parliament. This has raised concerns that the proposed changes may exacerbate existing tensions in Zimbabwean politics.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi stated that the proposed bill would undergo "legal scrubbing" by the attorney general before being published in the official government gazette and subsequently introduced to parliament. However, the opposition maintains that any constitutional amendments should require support from two-thirds of parliament and emphasize the importance of a public vote, thereby highlighting the ongoing strain between the ruling government and opposition forces in the country. The implications of this decision could reverberate throughout Zimbabwe's political future, as calls for democratic processes grow louder.