By Micah Jonah, February 18, 2026
Veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation war have filed a court challenge against proposed constitutional amendments that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years, potentially allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030.
Mnangagwa, 83, was originally scheduled to step down in 2028 after serving two five-year terms. The proposed changes also include a provision for the president to be elected by parliament instead of through a direct popular vote. The six veterans who brought the case argue that these amendments are unconstitutional and bypass the requirement for a referendum, violating entrenched democratic safeguards.
The Zimbabwean government dismissed the challenge, noting that the plaintiffs represent only a small fraction of the nation’s war veterans. Legal counsel for the veterans, Lovemore Madhuku, said the cabinet’s plan to push the amendments through parliament, where the ruling ZANU-PF party controls both houses, contravenes constitutional norms.
If the court rules in favor of the veterans, the bill could be nullified. Observers say the case highlights ongoing tensions within Zimbabwe regarding succession, governance, and the balance of power in the post-Mugabe era.
