Zimbabwe Constitutional Changes: Risk of One-Party State

Proposed constitutional changes in Zimbabwe could shift the country toward a one-party state, potentially extending the rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and altering the process for selecting national leaders.

The ruling Zanu-PF party is advancing reforms that critics argue will weaken democratic checks and balances. These changes follow the publication of the proposals in February 2026 and a series of public consultations conducted at the end of March 2026.

Proposed Structural Changes

The reforms put forward by Zanu-PF include significant modifications to the terms of office for both the presidency and parliament. The proposal seeks to extend these terms from five years to seven years.

the reforms would eliminate the direct popular vote for the presidency. Under the proposed system, the power to choose the head of state would be transferred to members of parliament.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is 83 years old and has been serving his second term since 2023, would benefit directly from these changes. If approved, he would receive a two-year extension beyond his current mandate, which is set to end in 2028.

Criticism and Democratic Concerns

Opponents of the measures suggest the changes mirror previous attempts by former President Robert Mugabe to consolidate power. Blessing Vava, head of a regional civil society coalition on democracy and accountability, stated to RFI that The changes will morph the country into a one-party state system of governance which former President Mugabe attempted to do.

Other analysts suggest that the push to extend the president’s rule may deepen divisions among the elite and further weaken the country’s democracy.

Controversy Over the Consultation Process

The procedure used to handle these reforms has drawn significant criticism from legal and political figures. The 2013 constitution of Zimbabwe requires a 90-day public consultation period before amendments can be formally introduced in parliament.

David Coltart, a founding member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party, mayor of Bulawayo, and a constitutional lawyer, noted that the public hearings were delayed and then compressed into a four-day window from March 30 to April 2, 2026.

It’s delayed weeks and weeks and weeks. And then…it has confined the hearings to a period of four days… from Monday through to Thursday. It has been wholly inadequate

David Coltart

Coltart also highlighted reports of violence and intimidation surrounding the process. He specifically cited the arrest of Tendai Biti, the leader of the Constitutional Defenders Forum, which occurred in Mutare in March 2026.