Zimbabwe's Senate has overwhelmingly passed sweeping constitutional amendments that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's time in office until 2030, completing parliamentary approval of changes critics have condemned as a "constitutional coup." Senate president Mabel Chinomona announced on Wednesday that 75 senators voted in favour and just four against, mirroring the National Assembly's decisive vote of 216 to 42 on June 18. The bill must return to the lower house for minor technical adjustments before Mnangagwa signs it into law.

The amendments, known as Constitutional Amendment Bill 3, make two landmark changes to Zimbabwe's political system. First, they extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, meaning the final term of the 83-year-old Mnangagwa — who was elected in 2023 — would run until 2030 rather than 2028. Second, they abolish direct presidential elections, which were only introduced in 1987, seven years after independence, and hand parliament the power to appoint the president instead. This effectively removes the possibility of an opposition candidate winning the presidency through a direct popular vote. The ruling Zanu-PF party, which has governed Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, holds commanding majorities in both chambers. Mnangagwa himself came to power in 2017 through a military-backed coup that ousted Robert Mugabe after 37 years in power.

Opposition figures and civil society groups have mounted fierce resistance, though with limited success so far. The Constitutional Court dismissed an earlier legal challenge on June 17, ruling it had no legal grounding. Opposition leaders, including former Finance Minister Tendai Biti — who was arrested in March — and former senator David Coltart, argue the amendments violate constitutional provisions on the right to vote and should be put to a national referendum. Authorities have rejected the referendum argument, citing public consultations they say demonstrated broad support. Human Rights Watch documented in March that police and unidentified armed men had threatened, harassed, and assaulted opponents of the amendments.

Beyond the constitutional dispute lies a deepening social and economic crisis. Opposition lawmakers argue the reform distracts from urgent day-to-day concerns: unemployment, unaffordable education, crumbling hospitals, and a drug epidemic devastating young Zimbabweans. Last year alone, 40,000 pupils dropped out of school because their families could no longer afford fees. Critics also point to widening inequality, with a narrow elite — closely tied to political power — concentrating wealth while Zimbabwe's industrial sector continues to decline and gold mining increasingly dominates the economy.

The amendments are expected to face further court challenges, though prospects remain uncertain after the Constitutional Court's earlier dismissal. For many observers, the passage of the bill marks a significant turning point. As prominent journalist Hopewell Chin'ono noted, enacting these changes will further consolidate Zanu-PF's hold on power and make it harder than ever for Zimbabwe to see a president from outside the ruling party in the foreseeable future.