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The Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces in Zimbabwe and head of the executive branch of government is the President. Until 1987 the president was a non-executive Head of State and the incumbent for the first seven years of Independence was Rev. Canaan Banana.
A constitutional amendment transformed the presidency into an executive Head of State, with the first executive President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, taking office on 31 December 1987. He was elected for a term of six years by members of the Senate and House of Assembly; thereafter, the office is open to popular election every six years.
Among the duties of the President are the appointment of the Vice-President, Senior Ministers, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Ambassadors and the conferring of honours. The President is Chairman of a Cabinet of Senior Ministers and Ministers.
The Cabinet decides on policy and prepares legislation for consideration by Parliament. It operates through Ministries and each Minister is in charge of a portfolio. The President has the prerogative over Ministers. Changes of Ministers are made in reshuffles.
The legislative body is the Parliament, which consists of an Upper House, the Senate, and a Lower House, the House of Assembly.
The Senate consists
of 40 members, elected by an electoral college consisting of all
members of the House of Assembly and including the eight Provincial
Governors who upon their appointment automatically become Senators.