HARARE — Businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and nine other newly appointed senators have been sworn into the Senate, following their appointment by President Emmerson Mnangagwa under constitutional changes that have expanded the Upper House from 80 to 90 members.

The 10 new senators are Tagwirei, Jabulani Sibanda, Mary Mliswa, Nokuthula Matsikenyere, Godwills Masimirembwa, Lucy Chitaga, retired Major-General Gibson Mashingaidze, Makhosini Hlongwane, Brilliant Dube and Irene Mutumbwa.

Their swearing-in follows the enactment of the Constitutional Amendment Act 3, which was signed into law in July and empowers the president to appoint 10 senators based on their “professional skills and other competencies” after consultation with the National Assembly.

The appointments have drawn scrutiny over whether the nominees meet that constitutional threshold. Critics contend the selections were driven chiefly by the nominees’ standing within Zanu PF and amounted to a reward for backing the constitutional changes, rather than a reflection of specialist professional expertise.

Tagwirei, who also serves as an advisor to Mnangagwa, entered active politics last year after being appointed to Zanu PF’s Central Committee. He campaigned actively for the constitutional amendment and has since been widely touted as a potential successor to the president.

Sibanda chairs the ruling party’s Bulawayo province, Masimirembwa chairs it in Harare, and Mliswa leads Zanu PF in Mashonaland West.

Hlongwane, who had largely stayed out of the political spotlight since the 2017 military coup that removed the late former President Robert Mugabe, returns to active politics through his Senate appointment.

Mashingaidze, the retired Major-General, chairs the War Veterans League in Masvingo province and backed the constitutional reforms.

Dube was formerly a member of the Constitution Defenders Forum, a movement that opposed the amendment, but has since shifted her position — a reversal some have linked to her Senate appointment.

The expanded Senate now has 90 members, with the 10 presidentially appointed senators joining the existing 80-member chamber.