Zimbabwe's Presidential Term Extension Bid

Zimbabwe's ruling Zimbabwe===ZANU–PF party is pushing for constitutional amendments that would allow parliament to elect the president instead of voters and extend the presidential term from five to seven years. This move would enable current President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030, beyond his current final term. Opposition figures, including Tendai Biti, have condemned these changes as a 'slow coup' and a return to the repressive tactics seen during Robert Mugabe's rule. Public hearings on the bill have been marked by polarization and alleged intimidation of critics. While Zimbabwe===ZANU–PF, through spokesman Patrick Chinamasa, defends the changes as promoting stability and economic development, the opposition argues they undermine democratic gains and could lead to an 'imperial presidency'. The bill is expected to pass in parliament, despite legal challenges being considered by critics who argue it violates constitutional requirements for referendums on term extensions.