‘Constitutional coup’ claims as Zimbabwe senate approves extending presidential term

Emmerson Mnangagwa won a second term in office in elections in 2023. Photograph: Monicah Mwangi/Reuters

Zimbabwe is on the brink of amending its constitution to give the president more time in office, a change that the government says will bring stability but that opponents have labelled a “constitutional coup”.

The upper house of Zimbabwe’s parliament voted on Wednesday 75-4 in favour of the constitutional amendments, which will allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in office until 2030 by extending presidential terms from five to seven years.