HARARE — Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament passed a bill to extend presidential terms in June 2024. The legislation would postpone scheduled elections from 2028 to 2030 and proposes shifting presidential selection from a direct popular vote to appointment by lawmakers.

The bill would extend presidential terms from five years to seven years. It also seeks to extend terms for members of parliament, councilors, and mayors from five years to seven years. The vote in the lower house recorded either 216 or 218 lawmakers in favor of the bill, while 187 votes were required to achieve a two-thirds majority for passage.

The bill requires Senate approval to become law. The governing ZANU-PF party controls the Senate. The Zimbabwe cabinet approved the constitutional amendment plan in February. The justice minister introduced the bill to parliament at the beginning of June.

On Wednesday, a constitutional court dismissed a legal challenge filed by activists and liberation war veterans against the proposed amendments. The legal challenges were removed from the court docket for procedural reasons. The legal case regarding the constitutional amendments is scheduled to proceed to the High Court.

Attorney Silvesta Hashiti said, "Applicants failed to establish any misconduct on the part of the president and had no legal basis for their case." Government supporters gathered outside the constitutional court to welcome the ruling. Attorney Lovemore Madhuku said, "We respect the judgment of the court but are undeterred." Political Analyst Precious Shumba said, "That court ruling reflects the erosion of our judiciary by the executive and this represents the death of our constitutional democracy."

President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed office in 2017 after the removal of Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa is 83 years old.