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HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe signed a law giving him more power to choose his successor, state media reported Thursday.
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The law gives the parliament dominated by Mugabe's ruling party the power to pick a successor should the 83-year-old Mugabe retire or die before his term in office ends.
Previously, elections had to be called within six months.
Mugabe has indicated he will stand for re-election. He has been in power since 1980 elections that followed a seven-year guerrilla war to end white-minority rule.
Critics warn Mugabe could use the legislation to maneuver a favored successor into position.
But the opposition Movement for Democratic Change unexpectedly voted for the bill when it was passed by Parliament in September, saying they were backing the changes as a "confidence-building measure."
The government and opposition are in talks to help end the southern African nation's political and economic crisis, triggered by violent, government-sanctioned takeovers of white-owned farms. Zimbabwe's economy is in meltdown, with shortages of everything from fuel to medication and basic foods.
The chief secretary to the president and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, announced in a government gazette that Mugabe had signed the bill into law, the official Herald newspaper said. It was not clear exactly when the signing took place.
The new law also allows for parliamentary elections to be moved up by two years so they can be held at the same time as presidential elections scheduled in March.
Under the new act, the number of seats in Parliament will increase from 150 to 210 and all will be elected. Under the previous law, 30 seats were given to officials considered loyal to Mugabe. Senate seats also increase, from 66 to 93.
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Previously, elections had to be called within six months.
Mugabe has indicated he will stand for re-election. He has been in power since 1980 elections that followed a seven-year guerrilla war to end white-minority rule.
Critics warn Mugabe could use the legislation to maneuver a favored successor into position.
But the opposition Movement for Democratic Change unexpectedly voted for the bill when it was passed by Parliament in September, saying they were backing the changes as a "confidence-building measure."
The government and opposition are in talks to help end the southern African nation's political and economic crisis, triggered by violent, government-sanctioned takeovers of white-owned farms. Zimbabwe's economy is in meltdown, with shortages of everything from fuel to medication and basic foods.
The chief secretary to the president and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, announced in a government gazette that Mugabe had signed the bill into law, the official Herald newspaper said. It was not clear exactly when the signing took place.
The new law also allows for parliamentary elections to be moved up by two years so they can be held at the same time as presidential elections scheduled in March.
Under the new act, the number of seats in Parliament will increase from 150 to 210 and all will be elected. Under the previous law, 30 seats were given to officials considered loyal to Mugabe. Senate seats also increase, from 66 to 93.
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