Zimbabwe lower house of parliament don pass bill wey go extend presidential term from five to seven years. Dis one go allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain for power until 2030.
More dan 200 lawmakers vote for di draft legislation on Thursday. Di vote pass di threshold wey dey required for two-thirds majority to amend di constitution.
Di bill also scrap direct presidential elections. Future presidents go dey chosen by parliament instead of di people.
Mnangagwa, wey be 83 years old, take power in 2017 after he oust long-time ruler Robert Mugabe wit di backing of di military. He go on to win disputed elections in 2018 and 2023.
Di bill now dey go to di senate, where e dey expected to secure approval, before di president go enact am.
Dis na di culmination of campaign by di ruling Zanu-PF party, wey don dey power since independence in 1980, to amend di constitution and extend presidential terms. Di plan receive cabinet backing in February.
Di president don previously describe himself as a constitutionalist and pledge to respect term limits.
During Thursday vote, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda announce say 216 lawmakers back di legislation. Dat surpass di 187 votes required to amend di constitution. Forty-two lawmakers vote against am.
Di amendment contain several provisions. Opposition parties, civil society groups, and constitutional lawyers argue say such fundamental changes suppose go to national referendum, not just parliament approval.
Initially, supporters hail Mnangagwa as a reformer wey go restore economic growth and democratic governance. But instead, im presidency don dey marked by economic challenges, disputed elections, and growing concerns over democratic backsliding.
Di latest constitutional changes don intensify debate over Zimbabwe political future. Opponents warn say di amendments fit weaken democratic accountability. Supporters maintain say dem necessary to ensure continuity and stability.
A new constitution wey dem adopt in 2013 restrict a president to serving maximum of two terms. E add say any move to extend term limits need to get endorsement from voters in a referendum. And a sitting president no fit benefit from any extension unless voters give approval in a second referendum.
However, on Wednesday, di country Constitutional Court dismiss a legal challenge wey seek to block di bill.
