Zimbabwe Court Clears Way for Presidential Term Extensions

The Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe dismissed two legal challenges on Wednesday that sought to block Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3. The proposed legislation aims to extend presidential terms from five to seven years and alter the presidential election system. Justice Barat Patel ruled that an application by six liberation war veterans was fatally defective and that a separate challenge by former legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda was premature.

The war veterans had accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of violating the constitution by presiding over cabinet discussions regarding the bill despite having a personal interest in the outcome. The court did not rule on the merits of these accusations, instead determining that the matter must first be heard in the High Court before it can reach the apex court through the standard appeal process.

These rulings allow the bill, which was gazetted in February by Speaker Jacob Mudenda, to proceed through Parliament. Because the ZANU-PF party holds a two-thirds majority in the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe, the government is expected to secure the bill's passage. Lawyer Lovemore Madhuku indicated that the challenge against the president will be refiled in the High Court, while Sibanda's case may be refiled after parliament votes on the amendments.