Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Political analysts have warned that escalating internal power struggles within ZANU-PF have reached dangerous levels and could destabilise the country.
This comes as one of the major factions within the ruling party pushes for a constitutional amendment to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s second and final term by two years, from 2028 to 2030.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the former army general who orchestrated the 2017 military coup that ousted long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, is now locked in a public showdown with Mnangagwa ahead of a critical party conference next month.
Last week, Chiwenga presented Mnangagwa with a dossier accusing petroleum tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei of looting billions of US dollars from ZANU-PF coffers.
Tagwirei, a controversial businessman under US and UK sanctions for allegedly fuelling corrupt patronage networks that sustain Mnangagwa’s rule, is widely viewed as the president’s preferred successor.
Efforts are underway to secure Tagwirei a position within ZANU PF’s Central Committee, further cementing his influence.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa’s loyalists are mobilising party structures to pass a resolution at the October 13–18 conference supporting the extension of the 83-year-old leader’s term.
The proposed amendment, which would scrap the presidential two-term limit, has split the party.
Retired General Chiwenga opposes the plan, seeing it as a threat to his own presidential ambitions, and is reportedly backed by elements of the security establishment.
His confrontation with Mnangagwa came a day after Tagwirei donated 300 luxury vehicles to ZANU PF, fuelling allegations that he was attempting to sway support for the term-extension agenda.
Just days earlier, another controversial businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, closely aligned with Mnangagwa, donated cash, vehicles, and ambulances worth over US$4 million to ZANU-PF provincial chairpersons, claiming the gifts were to celebrate Mnangagwa’s 83rd birthday.
In his dossier, Chiwenga alleged that Tagwirei had siphoned US$3.2 billion from ZANU PF through opaque investments, funds which he claimed were now being used to buy support for a third term.
He called for the immediate arrest of both Tagwirei and Chivayo, as well as the recovery of the allegedly looted money.
Harare-based academic Eldred Masunungure noted that ZANU-PF’s internal power struggles are not new, tracing them back to the pre-independence era when Mugabe’s ZANU-PF rivalled ZAPU, then led by the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo. He said:
“Those phases had bloody endings-hopefully that won’t be repeated this time.
“The long and short of it is that the events in the party are not a mere distraction.
“These dynamics must not be misread by the public especially the opposition, such as it remains as signalling the demise of the party or its regime.”
Masunungure said ZANU PF’s infighting is likely to escalate after the October conference, which will not include leadership contests but is expected to be dominated by the push to extend the president’s term. He said:
“If anything, the gladiation will likely be either more vicious, hopefully bloodless, or more subtle in a Machiavellian sense.
“There will clearly be winners and losers at the conference, but it’s hard to imagine the losers turning the other cheek.”
Reuben Mbofana, a Harare-based political commentator, said the reshuffle of the party’s top leadership was intended to safeguard Mnangagwa’s plan to extend his term. He said:
“To me, this is nothing short of Mnangagwa safeguarding his 2030 agenda just ahead of the party conference, using those reassignments.”
Chiwenga has never revealed any presidential ambitions, whereas Mnangagwa maintains he will not exceed two terms, even as he allows supporters to campaign for a two-year extension.
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