Key facts
- Zimbabwe's parliament passed a bill to extend presidential terms from five to seven years.
- The legislation would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.
- The bill proposes replacing direct presidential elections with selection by parliament.
- Parliamentary elections scheduled for 2028 would be delayed to 2030.
- The bill requires approval from the Senate before enactment.
Zimbabwe's parliament has approved constitutional amendments that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years and postpone elections from 2028 to 2030. The bill, which also proposes shifting presidential elections from a direct popular vote to selection by lawmakers, now moves to the Senate, where it is also expected to pass.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 83, would be eligible to remain in office until 2030 if the bill is enacted. This move places him among Africa's longest-serving leaders, a trend highlighted by a Pew Research Center analysis showing seven of the world's ten oldest leaders are in Africa, despite the continent's young population.
Analysts note that this constitutional erosion for political survival is a broader continental norm. Examples include Cameroon's Paul Biya, in power since 1982, and Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled for 47 years. Other leaders like Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara have also altered term limits to extend their tenures.
While some African countries actively uphold term limits, many have abolished or circumvented them. The trend of aging leaders contrasts with the emergence of younger leaders in countries like Senegal, Ethiopia, Chad, and Burkina Faso, often brought to power through military takeovers. However, analysts suggest that the continent's political landscape is still largely dominated by an aging elite, limiting opportunities for younger generations to gain power democratically.