Zimbabwe’s Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi introduced a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, proposing to extend the tenure of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and shift the country’s presidential election system from a direct popular vote to selection by lawmakers.
If passed, the bill would postpone the 2028 elections by two years, extending Mnangagwa’s Presidency until 2030. It also proposes extending the terms of the president, Members of Parliament, councillors and mayors from five to seven years.
The proposal has intensified political tensions in Zimbabwe, where critics of the Government have frequently faced detention or harassment. Justice Minister Ziyambi has indicated that he aims to secure parliamentary approval by the end of June, 2026, after which the President could sign the measure into law.
President Mnangagwa, who has been in power since 2017 following the ouster of long-time leader Robert Mugabe, leads the ruling ZANU-PF party, which holds a parliamentary majority and maintains alliances with sections of the opposition. While supporters argue that Parliament has the authority to approve the changes as presidential term limits would remain intact, critics insist that any extension of presidential tenure should require a national referendum. The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing legal challenges related to the proposal.