Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF demotes Obert Mpofu

Zimbabwe's ruling party has been thrown into fresh turmoil after President Emmerson Mnangagwa stripped Dr Obert Mpofu of his position as ZANU PF Secretary-General and reassigned him to the less influential role of Secretary for Information Communication Technology. The surprise move has been widely interpreted as part of Mnangagwa's bid to weaken Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, his long-time rival in the party's succession contest, with Mpofu seen as one of the general's closest and most reliable allies.

The demotion follows a fortnight of extraordinary upheaval inside ZANU PF, sparked by Chiwenga's presentation of an explosive dossier accusing Mnangagwa's loyalists of looting billions of dollars. The allegations, which singled out businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei - widely considered Mnangagwa's preferred heir - have deepened mistrust between the two factions and intensified the power struggle at the top of the party.

Mnangagwa had been due to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly but abandoned the trip at the last minute. Security sources revealed that the Central Intelligence Organization warned him of serious risks, including the possibility that his closest associates might face arrest in his absence. The President's decision to stay behind has fuelled speculation that he fears a coup, with insiders saying the atmosphere in Harare now resembles the tense days leading up to Robert Mugabe's ouster in 2017.

In the wake of these warnings, the restructuring of the ZANU PF Politburo was announced by party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa. Jacob Mudenda, until now the Treasurer General, has replaced Mpofu as Secretary-General, a powerful post that gives him control of the party's administrative machinery. Patrick Chinamasa, previously in charge of Legal Affairs, has moved into the Treasurer General's office, a role that puts him at the centre of ZANU PF's financial operations. Meanwhile, Ziyambi Ziyambi has shifted from the ICT portfolio to become the new Secretary for Legal Affairs, positioning another Mnangagwa loyalist in a crucial post as the succession contest sharpens.

The changes have been read as a clear attempt to consolidate Mnangagwa's support base by placing trusted allies in pivotal roles, while simultaneously undermining Chiwenga's camp. Political analysts warn, however, that the President's strategy could inflame tensions further and destabilise the ruling party at a time when Zimbabwe faces mounting economic and political pressures.

With Mpofu's fall from grace and Mnangagwa's inner circle tightening its grip on key levers of power, the battle for ZANU PF's future leadership has entered its most volatile phase yet.