Upper house gives green light to legislation allowing Zimbabwe's head of state to remain in office beyond current 83-year age limit

Zimbabwe's Senate gave its resounding approval to contentious constitutional amendments on Wednesday, paving the way for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030, after the lower house had already given its consent, thereby granting the changes full parliamentary backing.

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The amendments are among the most divisive political issues in the country, where Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF party, which has been in power since 1980, holds a significant majority in parliament, with the 83-year-old president at its helm.

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Now that the parliament has given its backing, the bill awaits Mnangagwa's signature to become law, marking the next step in the legislative process.

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According to Senate president Mabel Chinomona, the vote resulted in 75 senators voting in favour of the amendments and four against, demonstrating a clear majority.

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The bill had previously sailed through the national assembly on June 18, with 216 votes in favour and 42 against, indicating a similar level of support in the lower house.

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The amendments, which have been labelled a "constitutional coup" by critics, include a provision to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, effectively prolonging Mnangagwa's constitutionally limited two terms until 2030.

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Another key amendment grants parliament the power to appoint the president, thereby abolishing direct presidential elections, which were introduced in 1987, seven years after the country gained independence.

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Zimbabwe's opposition, which has been weakened by years of repression and tainted elections, argues that these measures will further entrench Zanu-PF's grip on the resource-rich nation's power.

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Activists who have attempted to mobilise resistance against the amendments have reported facing intimidation and violence, including arrests and assault by suspected state agents, highlighting the challenges faced by those opposing the changes.

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Efforts to challenge the amendment process through legal means have also been unsuccessful, leaving opponents with limited options to halt the changes.

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Mnangagwa, who is often referred to as "The Crocodile" due to his ruthless nature, came to power in 2017 through a military-backed coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, who was 93 at the time and had been in power for 37 years.

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Judged by some analysts to be more autocratic than his predecessor, Mnangagwa was elected for two five-year terms in 2018 and 2023, solidifying his position as the country's leader.

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When the cabinet approved the plan to extend Mnangagwa's term in February, it stated that this move would "enhance political stability and policy continuity to allow development programmes to be implemented to completion", highlighting the government's rationale for the amendments.

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Human Rights Watch reported in March that authorities were using violence and intimidation against opponents of the amendments, noting that "over the last few months, the police and unidentified armed men have threatened, harassed, and beat up several people who are opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment".