Zimbabwe's new law extends President Mnangagwa's term, transfers presidential vote to Parliament
via NewsDay Zimbabwe8 min read
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 83, recently enacted a law that extends his presidential term by two years and removes citizens' right to directly vote for the president, transferring this power to Parliament. This move has significantly altered Zimbabwe's political landscape, drawing parallels to the more than 30-year rule of former President Robert Mugabe. The article highlights this development as a critical warning for South Africa, which is approaching its local elections on November 4. It emphasizes that while Zimbabweans are losing their direct voting rights, South Africans still possess this power but often neglect it. The author argues that voting is a fundamental privilege that can be eroded through apathy, and that citizens' disengagement contributes to the decline of democracy. The piece concludes by stating that democracy requires active citizens, not just honest leaders, and that the situation in Zimbabwe underscores the importance of exercising and defending democratic rights before they are lost.
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