Zimbabwe’s parliament has passed a controversial bill that effectively extends the president’s hold on power, raising fears of a further democratic backslide in the southern African nation. The legislation, which was pushed through by the ruling ZANU-PF party, removes the current constitutional term limits and allows the president to remain in office until 2030. Critics argue that the move undermines the country’s fragile democratic gains and locks in a system where political opponents are systematically silenced.
The bill now awaits the president’s signature to become law, a step widely seen as a formality. For ordinary Zimbabweans, already grappling with hyperinflation, unemployment above 80 per cent, and a collapsed healthcare system, this political manoeuvre is another blow to their hopes for change. The economy, once a regional breadbasket, now leaves millions dependent on food aid.
Trade unions and civil society groups have condemned the bill, calling it a betrayal of the struggle for democracy. But with the security forces firmly behind the president, the path to reform appears blocked. The international community has expressed concern, but sanctions and diplomatic pressure have had little effect.
For the worker on the streets of Harare, this is not a distant political game. It is a decision that determines whether they can afford bread, whether their children will go to school, and whether they have any voice in their own future.
