Zimbabwe president signs constitutional changes extending term and altering election process
via The Namibian2 min read
Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa signed constitutional changes into law on Tuesday, extending his term until 2030 and eliminating direct presidential elections. The amendments, criticized by opposition figures, include provisions to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years and grant parliament the power to appoint the president. These changes were approved by cabinet in February, with the stated aim of enhancing political stability and policy continuity. Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 after a military-backed coup, was elected for two five-year terms in 2018 and 2023, which is the constitutional limit. Opposition figures, including lawyer Tendai Biti and Doug Coltart, argue that the new law allows for the "complete privatisation of power" and undermines the constitution. Critics have also accused the ruling Zanu-PF party of failing to address economic problems and of using violence and intimidation against opponents of the amendments, as reported by Human Rights Watch in March.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Namibia's gold export earnings reached N$5.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by elevated international gold prices, according to the Bank of Namibia's June 2026 quarterly bulletin. This increase occurred despite a significant decline in domestic gold production, which fell by 27.2% quarter-on-quarter and 25.5% year-on-year to 1,953kg. The central bank attributed the production decrease primarily to resource depletion and water supply constraints affecting mining operations. International gold prices averaged US$4,876.1 per ounce during the quarter, marking a 70.3% year-on-year and 17.5% quarter-on-quarter increase. This surge in prices was influenced by uncertainty in global financial markets and central banks increasing gold investments to reduce reliance on dollar-based assets amid geopolitical tensions. While higher prices boosted annual export receipts, quarterly gold export earnings declined as lower export volumes, particularly due to operational developments at B2Gold Namibia鈥檚 Otjikoto Mine, outweighed the benefit of rising international prices. Weaker zinc exports also contributed to the quarterly decline in mineral export earnings.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for enhanced trade and investment with China, emphasizing Namibia's commitment to adding value to its natural resources before export to create jobs. These remarks were made during her state visit to China, in a meeting with Communist Party of China Sichuan provincial committee secretary Wang Xiaohui and Sichuan province governor Shi Xiaolin. The Presidency stated that Namibia's relationship with China dates back to its liberation struggle, with Nandi-Ndaitwah's administration building on foundations laid by former President Sam Nujoma and subsequent leaders. She was accompanied by Cabinet ministers and Namibian business leaders to deepen bilateral relations and foster new trade opportunities. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted that Namibia's focus has shifted from solely exporting raw materials to local processing for job creation and industrial development. Xiaohui welcomed the Namibian delegation, noting that Nandi-Ndaitwah's choice to include China in her early state visits outside Africa reflects strong bilateral ties. He affirmed China's commitment to strengthening cooperation and facilitating partnerships between businesses from both nations, also recalling China's support during Namibia's independence struggle. Xiaohui believes the visit, especially to Sichuan province, will further deepen economic cooperation and bilateral ties.
Scientists are expanding research into the deaths of desert elephant calves in north-western Namibia due to increasing mortality rates. This research follows the death of a newborn calf, filmed struggling before it died, an event captured and shared by Elephant-Human Relations Aid EHRA. EHRA stated that tourists were present, potentially adding stress. The organization is collaborating with Daniella Chusyd, an assistant professor at Indiana University, to explore potential causes of calf mortality through genetic and field sample analysis, as well as stress level assessments. Atanasius Gawiseb, an experienced safari guide, suggests that increased human activity, including frequent tourist vehicles, close viewing distances, and the growth of tourism infrastructure, might contribute to elephant stress. He noted that elephants now lack privacy and are more restless, potentially affecting the ability of young calves to feed or rest. Gawiseb urged tour operators, guides, and self-drive visitors to maintain respectful distances from elephants. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, through spokesperson Vilho Hangula, supports this study, which involves EHRA and Ongava Game Reserve, and aims to understand factors contributing to high calf mortality among Ugab dwelling elephants. EHRA encourages visitors to maintain distance from elephants and invites public support for the research through expeditions or contributions to help protect Namibia鈥檚 desert elephant population.