Zimbabwe's President May Stay in Power Until 2030

Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, has decided to change the constitution. This change would let President Emmerson Mnangagwa stay in office until 2030. The party made this decision during a conference on Saturday. Mnangagwa is currently 83 years old. His second five-year term was supposed to end in 2028. The move has sparked controversy. Opposition leaders say it is against the law. They argue that Zimbabwe is a democracy. The constitution should be the supreme law of the land. Jameson Timba, a senior opposition leader, called for calm. He urged people to defend the constitution peacefully. Inside ZANU-PF, there is a power struggle. Mnangagwa's main rival is Constantino Chiwenga, a former army general. Chiwenga has been accused of treason. The party's legal secretary, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the change is needed. He believes it will bring stability and progress to the country. Mnangagwa came to power in 2017. He took over after a military coup removed Robert Mugabe. Mugabe was Zimbabwe's first leader after independence from Britain in 1980. Since then, ZANU-PF has been in control. The party has a strong majority in parliament. The economy is another big issue. Zimbabwe is trying to recover from a deep crisis. The country has a lot of debt. Many people are struggling. Job Sikhala, an activist, said this move is a challenge. He believes it will test the country's democratic forces.