Zimbabwe’s parliament has passed a controversial bill that effectively extends President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hold on power until 2030, a move that could see the country’s suspension from the Commonwealth extended. The bill, which amends the constitution to allow Mnangagwa to serve beyond his second term, was pushed through by the ruling Zanu-PF party despite fierce opposition from civil society and the political opposition.
The Commonwealth has already threatened to suspend Zimbabwe if it fails to adhere to democratic norms, and this latest development is likely to deepen the rift. The organisation’s charter demands that member states uphold democratic governance and the rule of law. Zimbabwe’s current suspension from the Commonwealth over human rights abuses and electoral fraud already hangs in the balance, but this bill could force a definitive break.
For ordinary Zimbabweans, the news will be met with both resignation and anger. The economy is in freefall, with inflation soaring above 500 per cent and unemployment at catastrophic levels. The cost of bread, cooking oil, and basic necessities has tripled in the past year alone. Workers have seen their wages wiped out by hyperinflation, and strikes have been brutally suppressed. The extension of Mnangagwa’s rule offers no hope for those scraping by on the breadline.
Critics argue that the bill is a desperate act by a regime that knows it cannot win a free and fair election. The last election, in 2023, was marred by allegations of vote-rigging and voter intimidation. The extension of presidential terms without credible democratic process is a pattern seen across the Southern African region, where leaders have clung to power through constitutional manipulation.
The bill must now be signed into law by President Mnangagwa himself, a formality that is widely expected. The Commonwealth will then decide on a response. A full suspension would be a blow to Zimbabwe’s international standing, but also to its people who would lose access to developmental support and investment. Yet, many here say they have little left to lose under a regime that has stripped them of their livelihoods and hope.
The passage of this bill is a stark reminder that democracy cannot be taken for granted. For those in the industrial north of Britain, perhaps it is a distant issue. But the threads of regional inequality and political decay are universal. When leaders break the rules to stay in power, it is always the ordinary people who pay the price.
