Key facts
- Zimbabwe's parliament has passed a bill to amend the constitution.
- The bill proposes extending presidential terms from five to seven years.
- The legislation suggests changing presidential elections to selection by lawmakers.
- The proposed amendments would postpone elections from 2028 to 2030.
- The bill has moved to the Senate for further consideration.
Zimbabwe's parliament has approved constitutional amendments that propose extending presidential terms from the current five years to seven years. The bill also includes a provision to change the method of presidential elections, moving from direct popular votes to a selection process by lawmakers. Furthermore, the proposed changes would postpone the next general elections, currently scheduled for 2028, to 2030. The legislation has now advanced to the Senate for further deliberation and potential approval. This move signals a potential shift in Zimbabwe's political landscape, altering the duration of presidential mandates and the mechanism by which the head of state is chosen.