A leaked draft document has proposed the suspension of national elections in Zimbabwe until 2035, a move critics allege is designed to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule. The unsigned document, titled ‘Breaking Barriers Initiative: Putting Zimbabwe First,’ suggests replacing direct presidential elections with a selection process by parliament.
The plan is described as advancing a ZANU PF resolution from October 2024, which called for constitutional amendments. The leaked draft links these proposed changes to the nation’s economic and governance challenges and its “Vision 2030” goals.
The document has prompted a strong response from the government. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi issued a press statement on October 22, 2025, denouncing the circulating text. He stated that the document, which bears no named author, is “unsubstantiated, unverified, and uncontroverted.”
Minister Ziyambi clarified that while various proposals for constitutional amendments have been submitted to the party, parliament, and his office, no decision has been made to adopt or endorse any specific plan. He dismissed the leaked document as “spurious, fabricated or manipulated” and a “total waste of time.”
Despite the official denial, critics and political observers view the leak as indicative of internal party tensions and a potential attempt to bypass presidential term limits ahead of the scheduled 2028 elections.
The government has urged the public to disregard the document, promising transparent communication once any official decisions on constitutional changes are made.
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