The Zimbabwean cabinet has unanimously approved constitutional changes aimed at extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's presidency to 2030, raising alarm among opposition figures who contend that such significant alterations should necessitate a national referendum. This directive follows a proposal from the ruling Zanu-PF party to extend Mnangagwa's tenure beyond the current end date of 2028. The amendments include an increase in the presidential term from five to seven years and a shift from direct public election of the president to selection by parliament, a strategy largely seen as an effort to entrench party control over the government.

Historically, President Mnangagwa's ascent to power in 2017 came in the wake of a military-backed coup that removed long-standing leader Robert Mugabe, who had held office for 30 years. The changes to the constitution, particularly the proposed parliamentary selection of the president, have heightened fears of diminishing democratic practices in Zimbabwe. Legal experts and opposition members assert that passing such amendments will require substantial support in parliament where Zanu-PF holds a majority, thus complicating the possibility of truly democratic governance.

With the attorney general tasked with making necessary legal reviews prior to the introduction of the bill in parliament, critics argue that this process may lack transparency and open the door to further manipulation of the political landscape. The looming question remains whether the public will have any say in these sweeping political changes, as opposition voices demand that any significant modification to presidential terms should be put to a national vote, fearing an erosion of the democratic process in Zimbabwe's political future.