Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

29 June 2026

1-minute read

On Wednesday, Zimbabwe’s Senate overwhelmingly approved a controversial constitutional amendment to keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in office until 2030.

According to Itai Zimunya, economist at think tank The Eastern Caucus, the Zanu PF prolonging the rule of the current president is a big challenge for Zimbabwe and its people.

The fait accompli comes at a time when parliament is in the process this week of approving what has been recommended by the senate and expecting the President to sign the bill as soon as it is finalised.

It appears that Zimbabweans are resigned to the amendment, seemingly taking a “backseat” on “hardcore political developments” since 2008. Zimunya referred to Zimbabwe being the only county in Southern Africa who has had “military assisted transition in the past 10 years.”

The extremist push by the state and private sector to retain power both politically and financially poses big challenges for Zimbabwe. Opposition forces are expected to coalesce and push back against power retention schemes that hinder the democratic process of elections, possibly leading to instability and mass exodus of people into South Africa.

This outcome will inevitably fuel the fires of xenophobia currently sweeping through South Africa.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Itai Zimunya here.