President Emmerson Mnangagwa Nears Term Extension as Zimbabwe Parliament Passes Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3

On June 30 2026, Zimbabwe’s National Assembly convened an extraordinary sitting to consider amendments proposed by the Senate to the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3). After the Senate approved the bill on June 24, the Assembly voted again, passing it with 226 legislators in favour and 41 against.

CAB3 would extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, delay the next election from 2028 to 2030 and replace the direct popular vote for president with a parliamentary ballot. The amendment also removes the automatic succession of the Vice‑President and tasks the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission with overseeing the parliamentary election of the president.

The bill will now be transmitted to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who must decide on assent within 21 days. Opposition figures such as Tendai Biti have labeled the legislation a “slow coup,” and civic groups are urging that a national referendum be held before the changes become law.