President Emmerson Mnangagwa has struck a major blow against Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s influence within Zanu PF, removing one of his strongest allies from a powerful post in the party and replacing him with a trusted loyalist.
In a dramatic reshuffle, long-serving secretary-general Obert Mpofu was stripped of his key role and reassigned to the marginal position of Secretary for ICT. The move, which insiders describe as a “demotion in all but name,” is being widely read as a calculated attempt by Mnangagwa to weaken Chiwenga’s power base ahead of the party’s annual conference. His replacement, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, is regarded as firmly aligned with Mnangagwa and is now positioned at the administrative core of the ruling party.
The shake-up comes at a time of escalating factional wars in Zanu PF, drawing comparisons to the turmoil that preceded the 2017 ouster of Robert Mugabe. Then, Mnangagwa and Chiwenga were united against the G40 faction. Today, however, the two men are bitter rivals locked in a dangerous succession struggle.
Mnangagwa, now in his early eighties, has repeatedly insisted that he will step down at the end of his second term in 2028. But many of his allies are quietly pushing for constitutional changes or party resolutions that would allow him to extend his stay in office until 2030—or even beyond.
Chiwenga, who led the military intervention that propelled Mnangagwa to power in 2017, is widely seen as the president’s natural successor. Yet the relationship between the two has soured. In recent weeks, Chiwenga reportedly tabled a dossier accusing Mnangagwa’s allies of looting billions of dollars from state coffers. The report allegedly focused on tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a close Mnangagwa associate and suspected heir apparent, whose wealth and influence have long been a source of controversy.
These revelations deepened mistrust within the top echelons of Zanu PF. According to senior party sources, Mnangagwa even cancelled a planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York after the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) warned that his absence could embolden rivals to mount a challenge.
Mnangagwa Clips Chiwenga’s Wings in Fierce Zanu PF Succession Battle
By cutting Mpofu down to size, Mnangagwa has delivered a clear warning to those aligned with Chiwenga. Mpofu, a veteran politician and influential figure from Matabeleland, was not only secretary-general but also a key strategist for Chiwenga’s camp. His reassignment to a relatively powerless department is seen as a direct attempt to paralyse the vice-president’s influence within the party.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa confirmed the reshuffle, which also included several other significant changes that consolidate Mnangagwa’s grip on the party.
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Jacob Mudenda takes over as secretary-general, giving Mnangagwa a loyal administrator at the centre of party operations.
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Patrick Chinamasa, another trusted ally, shifts from Legal Affairs to Treasurer-General, where he will control Zanu PF’s financial levers.
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Ziyambi Ziyambi, previously in charge of ICT, becomes Secretary for Legal Affairs, placing him in a position to handle looming court battles and constitutional disputes.
The new line-up effectively sidelines Chiwenga’s allies while strengthening Mnangagwa’s inner circle.
Political analysts warn that while Mnangagwa may have scored a short-term victory, the reshuffle could deepen divisions within Zanu PF. Mpofu has long been regarded as a heavyweight with strong regional backing, and his demotion risks alienating constituencies in Matabeleland.
“Mnangagwa has tightened his grip on the party machinery, but he has also lit a fuse,” said one Harare-based analyst. “By weakening Chiwenga’s camp so openly, he risks triggering a backlash that could destabilise both the party and the state.”
The parallels with 2017 are striking. Then, Mugabe’s failure to manage succession disputes created the conditions for a coup. Today, observers warn, Zanu PF is once again caught in the dangerous vortex of factional power struggles.
The timing of the reshuffle is significant. With the party conference around the corner and debates over the so-called 2030 agenda intensifying, Mnangagwa has moved decisively to secure his position. By neutralising Chiwenga’s allies and placing loyalists in strategic roles, he has ensured that resolutions emerging from the conference will favour his faction.
Yet the succession question remains unresolved. For now, Mnangagwa has the upper hand, but his efforts to extend his rule may provoke even fiercer resistance from Chiwenga and his supporters.
For ordinary Zimbabweans, weary from years of economic hardship, the internecine battles inside Zanu PF are a grim reminder that leadership struggles continue to dominate the country’s political agenda—often at the expense of governance and reform.
What is clear is that Mnangagwa’s latest manoeuvre has dramatically altered the balance of power within the ruling party. Whether it stabilises his leadership or plunges Zanu PF into deeper crisis will become evident in the months ahead.
Source- ZimEye
