83-year-old Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa signs law extending his presidency to 2030

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana announced the development on Tuesday, saying the legislation had been “signed, sealed and delivered,” confirming that it had officially become law.

The amendments postpone Zimbabwe’s next general election from 2028 to 2030, extending Mnangagwa’s current and constitutionally final term by two years.

The new law also provides for future presidents to be elected by Parliament rather than through direct popular vote, marking one of the country’s most significant constitutional changes in more than a decade.

The legislation follows months of political debate after the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) pushed for constitutional reforms that supporters say will improve governance and align electoral cycles, while critics argue they weaken democratic accountability.

A reversal of earlier promises

Mnangagwa, 83, had previously said he would leave office when his second term expired in 2028.

However, calls within ZANU-PF for him to remain in office gathered momentum over the past two years, with party supporters urging him to stay in power to complete his development agenda.

The ruling party formally adopted a resolution backing constitutional amendments in 2025 before Zimbabwe’s Cabinet approved draft legislation earlier this year.

Both houses of Parliament approved the amendments in June, clearing the way for the president to sign them into law this week.

Opposition mounts legal challenge

The constitutional changes have triggered criticism from opposition parties, civil society organisations, human rights lawyers and some veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, who argue that extending presidential terms should have been subjected to a national referendum.

Supporters of the amendments maintain that Parliament acted within the Constitution because the two-term limit for presidents remains unchanged, even though each term has been lengthened from five to seven years.

Several legal challenges seeking to overturn the amendments are still before Zimbabwe’s courts.

Political and economic implications

The reforms come as Zimbabwe continues efforts to rebuild investor confidence after years of economic instability, high inflation and currency volatility.

Political stability has been one of the government’s key messages in attracting foreign investment, particularly in mining, agriculture and energy.

However, constitutional changes affecting presidential succession are likely to remain closely watched by investors and international partners assessing the country’s governance and policy direction.

The amendments also arrive amid heightened political tensions, with opposition groups alleging restrictions on public gatherings, arrests of government critics and intimidation of activists in recent months.

Mnangagwa has led Zimbabwe since November 2017, when the military intervened to remove longtime leader Robert Mugabe from office after nearly four decades in power. Mugabe died in 2019.