Zimbabwe's Parliament has passed a bill amending the constitution to give the President sweeping powers to appoint the country's top judges without consulting any other institution. <br/><br/>If passed into law, the bill will give Robert Mugabe the sole responsiblity to appoint the chief justice and their deputy. <br/><br/>Under the 2013 constitution, the president could only appoint a chief justice from individuals recommended by the judicial services commission and after public interviews of the candidates. <br/><br/>Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who heads Zimbabwe's Parliament, hailed the adoption of the bill. Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party enjoys a majority in the 270-seat legislature.<br/>'<br/>A total of 182 lawmakers voted in favour of the changes that tinker with the country's constitution, which was adopted in a 2013 referendum after being put together by the ruling and opposition parties under a power-sharing government.