Emmerson Mnangagwa’s political skills may have earned him the nickname “The Crocodile”, but it still took half a century of working under Robert Mugabe before he ​got the chance to take Zimbabwe’s top job. Perhaps that’s why, nearly a decade later, Zimbabwe’s second post-independence leader seems reluctant to allow his ‌time in office to expire. Zimbabwe’s parliament voted in legislation on Thursday that would change the constitution to extend presidential terms from five years to seven. That would allow Mnangagwa, 83, to remain in power until 2030, three years beyond when his current term expires. His presidency began with a coup in November 2017. Supporters of the extension in Mnangagwa’s ZANU-PF party argue it will boost stability, ​cut election costs and enable longer-term economic planning. Their campaign has faced uncharacteristically vocal opposition from the public and some independence war veterans, who turned on ​their erstwhile ally, accusing him of a power grab.

Full report : Zimbabwe’s ‘Crocodile’ leader makes another move to consolidate power.