Zimbabwe’s parliament has passed a controversial bill that grants President Emmerson Mnangagwa sweeping new powers, prompting immediate condemnation from the UK government. The bill, which critics say effectively dismantles constitutional checks on executive authority, was rushed through the house in a session boycotted by opposition MPs.
Under the new legislation, the president gains the authority to appoint top judges, dissolve the electoral commission, and bypass parliament in emergency fiscal decisions. Human rights groups have warned that the move signals a return to authoritarian rule, eroding democratic gains made since Robert Mugabe’s ousting in 2017.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly expressed alarm in a late-night statement: “This is an unconstitutional power grab by President Mnangagwa. The UK stands with the people of Zimbabwe in their desire for free and fair governance. We are reviewing our diplomatic response.”
The bill now awaits Mnangagwa’s signature to become law. Economic analysts fear the development could spook foreign investors and deepen Zimbabwe’s ongoing currency crisis, already hitting ordinary families hard. Inflation topped 200% last month, with bread and fuel prices soaring.
“This isn’t about politics in Harare,” said Sarah Jenkins, Economy and Labour Reporter. “It’s about whether a Zimbabwean teacher can afford to feed her children. When a leader takes unchecked power, it’s the kitchen table that suffers first. Unions here are already shattered. This will only push more families into poverty.”
The Southern African Development Community has yet to comment, but African Union observers have raised concerns over the bill’s implications for regional stability. Protests are expected in Harare this weekend, though state security forces have issued warnings against ‘unlawful assemblies’.
