HARARE — President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his stay in power beyond the constitutional two‑term limit has sparked a major internal revolt within the ruling Zanu PF party — a rebellion led by none other than the man who helped install him eight years ago.
That rivalry, now playing out not only in party corridors but also in the provinces, is set to shape the outcome of next month’s pivotal Zanu PF conference. For both camps, grassroots support will be decisive in any attempt to amend the constitution to allow the president an extension.
At the centre of the storm is Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, the retired army general who orchestrated the 2017 military intervention that removed former leader Robert Mugabe. Chiwenga is now locked in a high‑stakes political confrontation with Mnangagwa, positioning himself as the leading opponent of a constitutional amendment that would allow Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond 2028.
In a dramatic twist to the simmering rivalry, Chiwenga tabled an explosive dossier last week before Zanu PF’s politburo, accusing petroleum magnate Kudakwashe Tagwirei of siphoning billions of dollars from the party. Tagwirei, a controversial businessman under US and UK sanctions for alleged corruption, is widely regarded as Mnangagwa’s preferred successor. Reports suggest concerted efforts are under way to install him within party structures ahead of the upcoming conference.
Tagwirei, a long‑time financier of Zanu PF since the Mugabe era, has pledged US$3 million for the conference scheduled for 13–18 October. That meeting is expected to debate a resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years beyond its scheduled expiry in 2028 — a move that would require a constitutional amendment.
Chiwenga’s dossier, tabled at the politburo a week ago, set off a political firestorm, exposing deepening factional divisions. He alleged that Tagwirei had siphoned US$3.2 billion from Zanu PF through opaque investments now being deployed to buy political support for a third term for Mnangagwa. Chiwenga demanded the immediate arrest of Tagwirei and another businessman closely linked to Mnangagwa, Wicknell Chivayo, along with the recovery of allegedly looted funds.
Zanu PF Succession Battle Deepens as Mnangagwa Faces Revolt Led by Chiwenga
The dispute escalated amid a flurry of high‑profile donations to Zanu PF ahead of the conference. Tagwirei reportedly donated 300 luxury vehicles, fuelling speculation that he was influencing the term‑extension agenda. Days earlier, Chivayo contributed cash, vehicles, and ambulances worth over US$4 million to party regional chairpersons, coinciding with Mnangagwa’s 83rd birthday celebrations.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa dismissed Chiwenga’s dossier as part of a destabilisation campaign orchestrated by power‑hungry actors. Speaking to journalists in Harare, Mutsvangwa said: “The politburo is not unduly moved by these things. This debate should not define Zanu PF. Wait for your time, it will come at the congress through a democratic process.”
Mutsvangwa’s remarks came a day before Mnangagwa announced a surprise reshuffle of the politburo, removing a key Chiwenga ally from the influential Secretary-General post. Observers interpret the reshuffle as a strategic move to strengthen Mnangagwa’s grip on the party ahead of the conference and to insulate his term‑extension push from internal sabotage.
Political analysts warn the stakes are higher than ever. Eldred Masunungure, a Harare‑based academic, likened the current factionalism to historic leadership battles within Zanu PF, dating to the pre‑independence era, and cautioned that such struggles often end in violence. “Those phases had bloody endings — hopefully that won’t be repeated this time,” he said, noting that the party’s current crisis is far from a distraction. “These dynamics must not be misread as signalling the demise of the party. They are a signal of an intensifying succession battle.”
For Chiwenga, the proposed extension derails his own ambitions for the presidency. He is reportedly backed by significant elements within the security establishment, whose influence could prove decisive. His defiance of Mnangagwa — including the dramatic dossier and public criticisms of Tagwirei and Chivayo — has turned the succession battle into a full‑blown contest.
Reuben Mbofana, a political commentator, said Mnangagwa’s reshuffle was designed to ensure the term‑extension agenda remains on track. “To me, this is nothing short of safeguarding his 2030 agenda just ahead of the party conference,” Mbofana said.
As the Zanu PF conference approaches, factional lines are hardening. Analysts say the military is likely to play a central role in the outcome, as it did during Mugabe’s final days in power. The question now is whether Mnangagwa can secure the necessary support to amend the constitution — or whether Chiwenga’s rebellion will reshape the future of the party and the country.
For now, Mnangagwa insists he does not wish to overstay, but his silence on halting his supporters’ campaign for a two‑year extension has only deepened speculation that the battle for Zanu PF’s succession will be decided not in the ballot box, but within the corridors of party power.
Source- Bulawayo24
