'Chiwenga overly ambitious'

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has demoted long-serving Zanu-PF secretary-general Obert Mpofu in a major reshuffle of the ruling party's top leadership, a move analysts say reflects intensifying factional battles ahead of the party's national people's conference in Mutare next month.

Mpofu, who now occupies the less prominent post of Secretary for Information Communication Technology (ICT), was replaced by his Matabeleland North rival, Jacob Mudenda, in the party's key operational role. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, previously ICT secretary, was appointed Secretary for Legal Affairs, while Patrick Chinamasa was moved to the position of treasurer-general, previously held by Mudenda.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa announced the changes in a brief statement, saying Mnangagwa exercised his constitutional mandate to reorganise the politburo. "This reorganisation underscores the party's enduring commitment to the policies, tenets and ethos of Zanu-PF and the permanent Zimbabwe revolution in service to the people and the nation," Mutsvangwa said.

The reshuffle comes a day after Mutsvangwa publicly criticised Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, who had presented Mnangagwa with a dossier alleging corruption involving his associates. Mutsvangwa accused Chiwenga of being overly ambitious and attempting to ambush the party leader.

Political analysts say the shake-up highlights the intensity of Zanu-PF's succession struggle. Eldred Masunungure described the party's internal battles as "increasingly vicious" and warned that tensions could escalate as the Mutare conference approaches. He likened the current factionalism to the historical "vashandi vs zvigananda" conflicts of the mid-1970s, noting the potential for both subtle and overt power struggles.

Tendai Ruben Mbofana said the appointments reflect a broader strategy to safeguard Mnangagwa's 2030 agenda. He highlighted that Mpofu's demotion removes a key figure who had resisted the elevation of business magnate Kudakwashe Tagwirei, while Chinamasa's move to treasurer-general rewards his support for Tagwirei's rise.

Mbofana noted that Jacob Mudenda's promotion positions him as a loyalist capable of overseeing the party's day-to-day operations, effectively taking over responsibilities previously held by the secretary-general. He also pointed to Vice-President Chiwenga's claims that Tagwirei had siphoned approximately US$3 billion through Zanu-PF's 45 percent stake in Sakunda Holdings, highlighting the political and financial stakes tied to the reshuffle.

"These reassignments are clearly designed to secure Mnangagwa's succession plans and protect strategic allies ahead of the party conference," Mbofana said.

Observers caution that while the reshuffle consolidates Mnangagwa's control over key party structures, it could further inflame factional tensions within Zanu-PF, shaping the trajectory of Zimbabwean politics in the run-up to 2030.