Zimbabwe’s 83-year-old president signs law to delay elections and extend his own term
Summary
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed a law that changes the country’s constitution to delay elections and extend his time in office. The law removes direct public voting for president and allows lawmakers to choose the president instead, while also lengthening presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.Key Facts
- President Mnangagwa is 83 years old and has led Zimbabwe since 2017.
- The new law postpones the next presidential election from 2028 to 2030.
- Direct public voting for president has been removed; now, lawmakers will elect the president.
- Both presidential and parliamentary terms have been extended from five years to seven years.
- The changes were approved by Parliament in June with support from Mnangagwa’s ruling party and some opposition lawmakers.
- Critics argue these changes violate the need for a national referendum to extend presidential terms.
- The reforms have caused political tensions, including bans on public meetings and arrests of some critics.
- Zimbabwe’s courts are reviewing several legal challenges against the constitutional amendments.
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