Mnangagwa halts Zanu-PF Harare rallies

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly stepped in to curb Zanu-PF Harare province's aggressive push for a controversial resolution to extend his presidential term to 2030, following concerns that the rallies exposed serious internal divisions within the ruling party.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa told journalists that Mnangagwa is not interested in remaining in office beyond 2028, when his current term ends. However, Mutsvangwa said the 2030 resolution remains on the party agenda, a statement that has left many observers confused.

"We had our resolution number one at the party conference in Bulawayo, which said that President Mnangagwa remains the president of Zimbabwe until 2030 and that resolution was unanimously made by a majority," Mutsvangwa said at a press briefing. "The decision of the president in 2027 will decide where the party will go as we have a congress in 2027. If you declare yourself as a candidate ahead of the party itself and the party having not announced the availability of a vacancy in the presidency, it is totally wrong."

A Zanu-PF politburo member indicated that the press conference was prompted by growing concerns that the Harare rallies were being used by some individuals to position themselves in the succession race. Mutsvangwa's remarks were reportedly made with Mnangagwa's endorsement.

While he did not name anyone directly, speculation has focused on businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who has been prominent in the Harare rallies. Mutsvangwa appeared to reference comments Tagwirei made at one rally calling for Zanu-PF to enforce its Mutare conference resolution to restrict foreign participation in certain sectors of the economy, labeling them as xenophobic.

"Certain things are only said by the president," Mutsvangwa stressed. "They are not said by everybody, otherwise everyone who thinks they can be a president can be seen giving policies from his platform. It may not be too late, particularly for people who want to be presidents, to go back to the Chitepo School of Ideology. I have mentioned it before."

Tagwirei has been touted as Mnangagwa's preferred successor, positioning him ahead of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who recently faced criticism from Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi for refusing to endorse the 2030 term-extension agenda. Ziyambi accused Chiwenga of disloyalty and of attempting to sabotage Mnangagwa, citing a dossier that allegedly exposed the party's capture by influential business figures exploiting their proximity to power.

According to Zanu-PF's constitution, the next party leader must be selected in 2027, with Chiwenga considered by some as the frontrunner. The intervention in Harare underscores growing tensions within the party as internal maneuvers for succession intensify.