World
Zimbabwe: Harare slows after nationwide shutdown call over constitutional changes
Harare was quieter than usual on the Friday before August 2, 2026, after opposition groups and civil society activists called for a nationwide shutdown over constitutional changes. Police were deployed, access to a popular park was blocked and some businesses remained closed in the morning. The changes postpone the next presidential election from 2028 to 2030, extend presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, and transfer the election of the president from voters to Parliament. The shutdown caused no widespread disruption, and businesses, taxis and traffic had largely returned to normal by the afternoon.