• Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved draft legislation to extend presidential terms from five to seven years.
• The proposed changes would let parliament elect the president instead of through direct popular vote.
• Opposition figures warn that such constitutional amendments require a national referendum.
• Minnangagwa's tenure extension is seen as a move to enhance political stability amid criticisms of governance.
• Calls for public demonstrations against the changes have faced police crackdowns.

Zimbabwe's cabinet has approved a draft law that could allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, aged 83, to extend his presidency until 2030 by changing the current five-year term to a seven-year term. This plan includes allowing parliament to elect the president rather than a direct vote by the populace, thus altering the established democratic process, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

As part of the legislative changes, opposition leaders are insisting that any amendments, particularly those extending the tenure of an incumbent, should require a national referendum. Critics contend that the ruling Zanu-PF party, which has dominated Zimbabwean politics since 1980, is poised to misuse its parliamentary majority to push through these changes without public consent, as noted by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in his remarks about upcoming public consultations, according to Africanews.

The proposed changes have ignited backlash from various opposition factions, with leaders warning that they threaten to undermine Zimbabwe's constitutional integrity and provoke political instability. Prominent opposition figure David Coltart labeled the cabinet's approval of the changes as “politically destabilizing,” asserting that it must be subjected to a referendum as required by constitutional standards, according to BBC and Africanews.

Legal experts and political analysts argue that any amendment to presidential term limits should not advantage a sitting president, thus complicating the ruling party's narrative that seeks to consolidate power in light of persistent economic challenges and allegations of corruption. Despite these criticisms, the government's stance remains that extending terms will enhance political stability and policy continuity in pursuing development objectives, as reflected in official cabinet statements, according to Al Jazeera and Africanews.

Remarkably, Mnangagwa, who became president following a military coup in 2017, has faced mounting criticism over human rights abuses and economic mismanagement. His administration's push for constitutional amendments has been perceived as a response to internal succession battles within the ruling party, looking to secure his position against potential challengers. These developments have sparked protests, some of which were met with police crackdown resulting in arrests of demonstrators, according to BBC and Africanews.