Voting took place across the country’s 30 regions and on the semi autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, where residents are also choosing a regional president and members of the island’s House of Representatives. Nationally, voters are electing a president and 400 members of parliament, in a contest that analysts say could further consolidate the ruling party’s grip on power.

The election, however, has drawn criticism from both local and international observers after the electoral commission disqualified the main opposition party, CHADEMA, in April. The commission accused the party of refusing to sign the national electoral code of conduct  a move CHADEMA dismissed as politically motivated.

The party’s leader, Tundu Lissu, remains on trial for treason, charges he has denied, calling them “an attempt to silence dissent.” Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and returned from exile in 2020, has been one of President Hassan’s most vocal critics.

With CHADEMA and other key opposition candidates barred, President Hassan’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) faces little organized competition. Her campaign has centered on promises to expand economic reforms, strengthen women’s participation in leadership, and promote national unity after years of political polarization under her late predecessor, John Magufuli.

Hassan, who became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 following Magufuli’s sudden death, is seen by supporters as a stabilizing figure who has reopened civic space and restored Tanzania’s international relations. Critics, however, argue that recent government actions including opposition bans and media restrictions  show a return to authoritarian tendencies.

Election officials reported a strong voter turnout early in the day, though sporadic reports of delays and irregularities surfaced in some urban districts. Results are expected to be announced within the next several days.

Regional observers from the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU) have deployed monitoring teams, though access for some international media outlets has reportedly been restricted.

Delegates at the high level gathering passed a motion instructing the government to begin drafting constitutional amendments that would override the current two term presidential limit, which would require Mnangagwa to step down in 2028.

The move, met with applause and support from party loyalists, signals a renewed push by ZANU-PF to consolidate power ahead of what many analysts see as a critical period for Zimbabwe’s political and economic future.

Legal and Political Implications

Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution ratified under a power sharing government after a decade of political instability clearly limits presidents to two five year terms. Mnangagwa, who came to power after a military assisted transition in 2017 that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37 year rule, was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2023.

Legal experts say any change to presidential term limits would require a two thirds majority in Parliament which ZANU-PF currently holds and possibly a public referendum.

A Pattern of Entrenched Power

ZANU-PF has held uninterrupted power since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Mnangagwa, once Mugabe’s close ally and former intelligence chief, has overseen a continued securitization of politics, where military and party elites dominate government functions.

Saturday’s motion echoes past instances in Zimbabwean and African politics where constitutional changes have been used to extend presidential terms a trend seen in countries like Uganda, Rwanda, and more recently, Côte d’Ivoire.

While supporters frame the move as a necessary adjustment to “maintain stability and economic growth,” critics argue it reflects a deeper erosion of democratic norms in a country still grappling with hyperinflation, corruption, and widespread unemployment.

Internal Dissent and Risks

Though the party remains largely unified in public, some insiders have reportedly voiced concerns that pushing a term extension could trigger legal challenges, civic protests, or international condemnation. In 2017, Zimbabweans backed Mnangagwa’s rise in hopes of reform, but opposition figures now accuse him of replicating Mugabe’s autocratic playbook.

“No one should rule forever,” said a senior member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party. “This is not about development. It’s about fear of accountability.”

What Happens Next

The legislative process to amend the Constitution is expected to begin in the coming months. It remains unclear whether a referendum will be held or whether the move will face formal opposition from within ZANU-PF ranks.

Observers warn that the plan, if executed, could set a precedent for future leadership extensions, weakening constitutional safeguards.