Mnangagwa demotes Bimha

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made a surprising reshuffle within the Zanu-PF party's Politburo, a move seen as addressing the contentious succession issue that could challenge the party ahead of the 2028 elections.

In a brief statement delivered by Zanu-PF Secretary-General Obert Mpofu, it was announced that Mnangagwa removed Mike Bimha from his role as Political Commissar, although Bimha remains a Politburo member. Munyaradzi Machacha, previously the principal of the Chitepo School of Ideology, will replace Bimha as the new Political Commissar.

Bimha's removal mirrors the fate of his predecessor, Engelbert Rugeje. In another significant change, Patrick Chinamasa has been moved from his position as the Party Treasurer General to the Secretary of Legal Affairs. Jacob Mudenda, who previously held the legal affairs portfolio, will now take over as Treasurer General.

Mpofu elaborated on these changes during a press conference at the party headquarters in Harare, stating, "His Excellency, the President and First Secretary of the party Dr. ED Mnangagwa has made the following reassignments to the revolutionary ruling party's Politburo portfolios with immediate effect."

"Jacob Mudenda has been reassigned to the party's Treasurer General post. He was formerly the party's Secretary for Legal Affairs," Mpofu announced.

"Munyaradzi Machacha has been reassigned to be the party's Secretary for Commissariat. Until his reassignment, Machacha was the principal of Zanu-PF's Chitepo School of Ideology."

Mpofu confirmed that Mike Bimha, despite being removed as Secretary for the Commissariat, will continue to serve as a Politburo member.