HARARE – In the corridors of power in Zimbabwe, a storm is brewing over a leaked blueprint that allegedly outlines a meticulous plan to scrap the 2028 general elections and extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure. The revelations, brought to light by former Zanu PF insider Sybeth Musengezi and echoed by political analyst Jealousy Mawarire, suggest a coordinated effort to bypass constitutional term limits and entrench the current administration’s grip on the nation.
Musengezi, who rose to prominence after challenging Mnangagwa’s legitimacy in court, has warned that the ruling party is already in “election mode,” positioning itself to manipulate the political system years before the next scheduled vote. Speaking after the launch of his new political outfit, Suthisa Ilizwe-Gutsaruzhinji (Si-G), Musengezi argued that the early mobilisation by Zanu PF is a clear indicator of a deeper strategy to ensure survival beyond 2028.
“Zanu PF is in election mode right now as we speak. They are moving around the country holding rallies. What is the purpose if not elections?” Musengezi questioned.
The ‘Breaking Barriers Initiative’
The alleged plot is reportedly detailed in a document titled the “Breaking Barriers Initiative” (BBI). According to Jealousy Mawarire, a former opposition leader and political analyst, this blueprint aims to amend Section 92 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The proposed amendment would shift the election of the President from a popular vote by all registered citizens to a vote conducted solely within Parliament.
“That document talks about, it is an attempt actually, to legally, so to speak, extend the President’s term of office by amending Section 92 of the Constitution,” Mawarire explained. “Section 92 states that the president is to be elected by all the registered voters in Zimbabwe. The repeal of Section 92, which is being pushed by that document, would then result in a situation where the President would be elected only by Parliament. The thinking is that if that constitutional amendment goes through, it has the legal effect of ending the President’s current term.”
Mawarire further alleged that this move is being pushed by a clique of influential businessmen who seek to prolong their access to state-sponsored wealth and shield themselves from accountability. “This is motivated by criminality because the guy has accumulated a lot of wealth, and he knows that, along the way, there are issues to do with human rights violations that he wants to run away from, and this one is a very good cover for him to go for as long as possible,” he added.
The ‘ED2030’ Campaign and Internal Tensions
The BBI document surfaces amidst a growing “ED2030” campaign within Zanu PF, which seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s rule to 2030. Despite the President publicly stating that he will retire at the end of his second term in 2028, the ruling party’s National People’s Conference in Bulawayo recently passed resolutions supporting the extension.
However, the path to 2030 is fraught with internal divisions. Reports suggest that the military and certain factions within the party are uneasy with the proposed extension. The 2017 change of government, which saw the late Robert Mugabe ousted, was predicated on a promise of reform—a promise that Musengezi says has been betrayed.
“We wanted a lot of reforms in the party, unfortunately, the system was still rigid. So we expected Mnangagwa to change a lot of things, but I’m actually seeing things getting worse,” Musengezi told NewsDay. He pointed to the 2024 Corruption Perception Index, which showed Zimbabwe sliding backwards, scoring only 21 out of 100 points. “Corruption is too much. Yes, development is there, but it’s isolated and it’s coming to very few people. If you see roads being constructed, very few companies are doing those things. The owners of those companies are politically-connected.”
The Role of Exiled Figures and ‘Political Turncoats’
The plot has also sucked in exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo. Mawarire accused Moyo of being involved in the BBI blueprint, a claim that Moyo has vehemently dismissed as a “pretext for destruction.”
In a social media post, Moyo used a proverb about a “mad dog” to describe the accusations: “At its core, the proverb delivers a twofold moral maxim: Beware of false accusations or pretexts for unjust actions. On the dark side, it warns against the toxic tendencies such as the kind of poisoning Zimbabwean politics today.”
Adding to the complexity is the role of Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-imposed Secretary General of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Tshabangu, who decimated the opposition through a series of controversial recalls of elected officials, is now reportedly spearheading a plan to suspend the 2028 elections. Critics argue that Tshabangu is acting as a proxy for Zanu PF to provide a veneer of multi-party support for the constitutional amendments.
A History of Legitimacy Challenges
Musengezi’s fallout with Mnangagwa is deeply rooted in his 2020 High Court application, where he argued that Mnangagwa unconstitutionally ascended to the post of Zanu PF First Secretary following the 2017 coup. Musengezi’s house was subsequently bombed, and he faced numerous arrests on what he describes as politically motivated charges before being acquitted in August 2024.
“This is not what we expected when we took over in 2017,” Musengezi lamented. He urged the President to distance himself from “shady deals” and focus on the struggles of ordinary citizens.
The memory of August 2018, when six people were killed by soldiers during protests over delayed election results, looms large over the current political climate. Musengezi ruled out protests as a viable means of change, citing the state’s willingness to use lethal force. “They will just shoot you, as they did in 2018, and then life continues for them. So we want to face them in the ballot,” he said.
The Road to 2028
As Si-G begins its nationwide campaign, Musengezi believes it will take at least three years to build a force capable of dismantling Zanu PF’s electoral machinery. He accused other opposition leaders of prioritising personal interests, with the exception of Nelson Chamisa, whom he described as the only “vibrant” leader remaining.
“We need at least three years to build a political force that can dismantle Zanu PF. We are not a fly-by-night party,” Musengezi asserted. He alleged that Zanu PF’s previous victories were the result of manipulating electoral processes rather than simple vote tallies.
Zanu PF has consistently rebutted these claims, maintaining that its policies resonate with the people. Yet, the emergence of the BBI document and the relentless push for “ED2030” suggest that the battle for Zimbabwe’s future is being fought not just in the villages and towns, but in the very text of its Constitution.
For a nation still grappling with the legacy of the 2017 transition, the “leaked” 2028 plot represents a critical juncture. Whether the BBI blueprint is a genuine roadmap for an extended presidency or a sophisticated piece of political theatre, it has undeniably set the stage for a high-stakes confrontation that will determine the fate of Zimbabwean democracy for decades to come.
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