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Zimbabwe's parliament approves extension of president's term
The bill is Mnangagwa's ploy to stay in power.
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
I agree House of Representatives In Zimbabwe on Thursday, a bill was introduced to extend the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power until 2030.
Around 216 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, exceeding the 187 votes needed to achieve a two-thirds majority.
The bill was submitted to the Supreme Council of Parliament.
In the next step, the bill is scheduled to move to the upper house of parliament, and is also expected to pass, as the ruling ZANU-PF party, led by Mnangagwa, controls the house through proxies who generally vote with the party.
Mnangagwa wants power
Signs emerged that Mnangagwa, 83, wanted to remain in power after the end of his second term in 2028 nearly two years ago, when his supporters began chanting slogans at ZANU-PF party rallies that he needed more time to complete his program.
Last year, the party decided to change the constitution to extend presidential terms, and the plan received cabinet support in February.
Critics say the bill is a ploy by Mnangagwa to stay in power longer, although his supporters say it will enhance accountability and promote political stability.
Mnangagwa is nicknamed “The Crocodile,” and in Zimbabwean folklore, the crocodile is depicted as a stealthy and cruel creature.
Mnangagwa came to power after a 2017 military coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who had been in power since independence in 1980.
Even as disagreements arose between them in the months leading up to the coup, Mnangagwa was one of Mugabe’s closest aides, holding senior government positions including that of vice president.
Some activists and veterans of the country's liberation war launched legal challenges against the plan to extend Mnangagwa's term as head of state, but they were struck from court records this week for technical reasons.
Other African countries whose leaders have changed the law to stay in power longer include Cameroon and Uganda, cementing a trend on the continent of remaining in power.
