Chiwenga faction blocks Mnangagwa's bid to extend presidency

A fierce power struggle within Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party has escalated, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's faction retreating after a failed attempt to extend his presidency beyond 2028. The conflict centers around a battle for succession between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is reportedly backed by the military.

At the recent Zanu-PF National People's Conference in Bulawayo, Chiwenga's faction successfully blocked Mnangagwa loyalists from pushing a controversial resolution that would allow the 82-year-old leader to remain in office beyond his constitutionally mandated two terms. The resolution argued that Mnangagwa should be allowed to stay in power to complete his ‘Vision 2030' agenda. However, Chiwenga's camp resisted the proposal, advocating instead for the president's departure in 2028 to pave the way for Chiwenga's ascendancy.

The rivalry has created turmoil within the party, with retribution targeting key figures aligned with Mnangagwa's extension bid. Zanu-PF's Harare provincial chairperson, Godwills Masimirembwa, has become the latest casualty of Chiwenga's faction. Masimirembwa was served with a suspension letter after allegedly violating both the party and national constitution by pushing the "2030 Mnangagwa will still be in office" agenda.

In the suspension letter, dated November 14, 2024, Zanu-PF provincial political commissar Kudakwashe Damson condemned Masimirembwa's actions, accusing him of undermining the legacy of President Mnangagwa and sowing divisions within the party. "Gross abrogation of the party Constitution and national Constitution" were cited, alongside accusations that Masimirembwa's actions were driven by a selfish, hidden agenda to destabilize the party.

Masimirembwa's suspension comes amid accusations of sabotaging Zanu-PF's election campaigns in the Mt Pleasant and Harare East constituencies. The tension has also turned violent, with Masimirembwa's offices at the Zimbabwe Legal Institute in Harare being petrol bombed, leaving a security guard with serious burns. The attack is believed to be an act of intimidation against Masimirembwa, who has been a vocal proponent of the "2030 Mnangagwa anenge achitonga" slogan.

Other high-ranking officials, including Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira and Midlands Minister Owen ‘Mudha' Ncube, are also reportedly facing suspensions as part of the ongoing purge of Mnangagwa loyalists. Zanu-PF sources indicate that more retributions are likely as Chiwenga consolidates his power within the party.

The escalating power struggle reflects deepening divisions within Zanu-PF as the party grapples with its leadership succession plans. With Mnangagwa's second and final term set to end in 2028, the battle for his successor is intensifying, and the outcome of this internal conflict will shape the future direction of Zimbabwe's political landscape.