Zimbabwe Approves New Constitutional Amendment Act
津巴布韋通過新憲法修正案
Introduction
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law new changes that extend his time in office and modify the country's voting and legal systems.
總統埃默森·姆南加古已簽署新法案，延長其任期並修改國家的投票與法律制度。
Main Body
The process for the Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Act began in October 2025, after the ZANU-PF party decided to lengthen presidential terms. Following approval from the Cabinet in February 2026, both the National Assembly and the Senate passed the law in June with a large majority. Consequently, the terms for the president and parliament have increased from five to seven years, which means the next general election has been moved from 2028 to 2030.
《憲法修正案（第3號）》的程序始於2025年10月，當時ZANU-PF黨決定延長總統任期。在2026年2月獲得內閣批准後，國民議會與參議院於6月以絕大多數通過了該法律。因此，總統與國會的任期從五年增加到七年，這意味著下次大選已從2028年移至2030年。
In addition to extending the time in power, the Act changes how the head of state is chosen. Instead of a direct vote by the people, the president will now be elected by parliament. Other changes include increasing the number of Senate members from 80 to 90 and moving voter registration duties to the Registrar-General. Furthermore, the government has removed public interviews for senior judge appointments and created a new Judge President position in the Supreme Court.
除了延長執政時間外，該法案還改變了國家元首的選拔方式。總統現在將由國會選出，而非由人民直接投票。其他變更包括將參議院議員人數從80人增加至90人，並將選民登記職責移交給總登記官。此外，政府取消了高級法官任命的公開面試，並在最高法院設立了新的首席法官職位。
Opinions on these changes are deeply divided. The government emphasizes that these reforms are necessary to ensure political stability and keep economic policies consistent. On the other hand, opposition groups and legal experts argue that the amendments break the rules of the 2013 Constitution. They assert that such major changes should have been decided by a national referendum. Meanwhile, there have been reports of the state restricting public protests and arresting critics, while the courts have not yet made a final decision on the legal challenges.
對這些變更的看法分歧嚴重。政府強調，這些改革對於確保政治穩定及保持經濟政策一致至關重要。另一方面，反對派團體與法律專家則認為，這些修正案違反了2013年憲法的規定。他們主張如此重大的變更應由全國公投決定。同時，有報導稱國家限制公眾抗議並逮捕批評者，而法院尚未對相關法律挑戰做出最終裁決。
Conclusion
The Zimbabwean government has officially changed the constitution to extend the current presidency until 2030, despite strong opposition and ongoing legal battles.
儘管面臨強烈反對與持續的法律爭議，津巴布韋政府已正式修改憲法，將現任總統任期延長至2030年。
Vocabulary Learning
🧩 The "Logical Glue" Strategy
To move from A2 (simple sentences) to B2 (complex flow), you need Connectors. A2 students say: "The law changed. The election moved." B2 students say: "Consequently, the election has been moved."
🚀 Level-Up Your Transitions
Look at how this text connects ideas. Instead of using "and" or "but" every time, use these specific tools found in the article:
1. Showing Result (The 'Cause & Effect' Bridge)
- The Word:
Consequently - How to use it: Use this when the second sentence happens because of the first.
- Example: "I missed the bus. Consequently, I was late for the meeting."
2. Adding Weight (The 'Plus' Bridge)
- The Words:
In addition to/Furthermore - How to use it: Use these when you want to add a new, important point to your argument.
- Example: "The hotel is cheap. Furthermore, it is near the beach."
3. The Great Divide (The 'Contrast' Bridge)
- The Phrase:
On the other hand - How to use it: Use this to introduce a completely different opinion or perspective.
- Example: "Living in a city is exciting. On the other hand, it is very noisy."
🛠️ Vocabulary Shift: From Basic B2
Stop using "say" for everything. The article uses Reporting Verbs to show how something is said:
| A2 Level (Basic) | B2 Level (Academic) | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Say | Emphasize | To say something with strong importance. |
| Say | Argue | To say something to prove a point. |
| Say | Assert | To say something confidently as a fact. |
Pro Tip: When writing an essay or a formal email, replace "I think" with "I assert" or "I argue" to instantly sound more professional.