Zimbabwe: Constitutional Amendments a 'Step Back for Democracy', Regional Watchdog Says Zimbabwe Set a Bad Precedent in SADC

What the report says

The Southern Africa Coalition for Democracy and Accountability (SACDA) has criticized Zimbabwe’s recent constitutional amendments, calling them a setback for democracy and a harmful precedent in the Southern African region. According to the source article, the changes were signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in July through the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act.

The amendments extend the terms of the president, parliamentarians and local councillors from five years to seven years. They also push the next general election from 2028 to 2030 and replace direct presidential elections with a parliamentary vote. SACDA said the shift weakens direct accountability and argued that constitutional rules should not be altered to benefit incumbents without meaningful public consultation and popular approval.

The watchdog’s statement was issued to mark International Day of Democracy on September 15. The article says the changes have drawn criticism from some civic groups and political observers, who fear they could further entrench Mnangagwa’s rule. Supporters, by contrast, have described the amendments as part of a broader restructuring of the country’s constitutional and governance framework.

The report also notes that SACDA linked Zimbabwe’s moves to similar constitutional debates elsewhere in Southern Africa, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In that wider context, the group framed the Zimbabwe case as part of a regional test for term limits, elections and executive accountability.