Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law a package of constitutional amendments on Tuesday that extends presidential, parliamentary, and local government terms from five to seven years, allowing him to remain in office until 2030.
The reforms also abolish direct presidential elections, transferring the power to choose the head of state to a two-thirds majority vote in parliament. The legislation passed the National Assembly in June, with 216 of 258 members voting in favour.
The changes represent a significant consolidation of authority in a country where the ruling party holds a dominant legislative majority. Sweden's Dagens Nyheter noted the amendments ensure Mnangagwa's continued tenure, while Deutsche Welle framed the move as a tightening of the president's grip on power.