Zimbabwe Ruling Party's Plan to Scrap Presidential Elections Sparks Deep Division
Zimbabwe is experiencing significant political polarization following the ruling Zanu-PF party's introduction of a draft law aimed at abolishing direct presidential elections. The proposed constitutional amendments would transfer the power to elect the president from voters to parliament and extend both presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years. This move would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose current term ends in 2028, to remain in office until 2030. Opposition leaders, including Tendai Biti, have condemned the proposal as a 'slow coup' and a new wave of repression, citing banned meetings and violence against critics. Conversely, Zanu-PF officials defend the changes as cost-effective and less controversial. Recent public hearings in Harare revealed deep societal fractures, with supporters cheering the bill while opponents faced intimidation, physical altercations, and device seizures. With parliament expected to pass the bill soon, the situation highlights growing concerns over democratic backsliding and the entrenchment of Mnangagwa's power, marking a contentious shift in Zimbabwe's political landscape since independence.
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Zimbabwe Ruling Party's Plan to Scrap Presidential Elections Sparks Deep Division
Zimbabwe is experiencing significant political polarization following the ruling Zanu-PF party's introduction of a draft law aimed at abolishing direct presidential elections. The proposed constitutional amendments would transfer the power to elect the president from voters to parliament and extend both presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years. This move would allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose current term ends in 2028, to remain in office until 2030. Opposition leaders, including Tendai Biti, have condemned the proposal as a 'slow coup' and a new wave of repression, citing banned meetings and violence against critics. Conversely, Zanu-PF officials defend the changes as cost-effective and less controversial. Recent public hearings in Harare revealed deep societal fractures, with supporters cheering the bill while opponents faced intimidation, physical altercations, and device seizures. With parliament expected to pass the bill soon, the situation highlights growing concerns over democratic backsliding and the entrenchment of Mnangagwa's power, marking a contentious shift in Zimbabwe's political landscape since independence.
BBC News