Chiwenga clashes with Mnangagwa loyalists

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has reportedly cautioned the ZANU PF politburo against pushing ahead with Constitutional Amendment No. 3 without a national referendum, exposing growing divisions within the ruling party's top leadership.

According to reports, Chiwenga  -  a former military commander who played a key role in the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état that brought Emmerson Mnangagwa to power  -  has been locked in tense exchanges with senior party officials backing the proposed changes.

The friction reportedly escalated during last week's politburo meeting, where a heated confrontation broke out between Chiwenga and State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke.

Sources say the dispute was triggered after Chiwenga insisted that any amendment affecting presidential term limits must be subjected to a national referendum  -  a stance that contradicts the current push within Mnangagwa's camp.

Matuke is said to have accused unnamed party members of undermining the official position, prompting Chiwenga to stand firm. The confrontation reportedly drew in Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and party commissar Munyaradzi Machacha, who backed Matuke.

During the exchange, Chiwenga is reported to have defended his position by invoking his liberation war credentials, telling colleagues he had fought for the country's independence "while others sought refuge elsewhere."

The tensions follow remarks he made at a funeral, where he referenced the principle of "one man, one vote"  -  comments widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of the amendment drive.

He has previously described the so-called "2030 agenda," which seeks to extend Mnangagwa's tenure beyond constitutional limits, as an "assault on the values of the liberation struggle."

Mnangagwa appeared to respond indirectly during a recent address to the party's central committee, warning against "malcontents" pursuing "self-serving agendas."

Political analysts say the push for constitutional changes is increasingly being viewed as part of a broader power struggle within the ruling party, potentially aimed at sidelining Chiwenga's own presidential ambitions.

As Parliament of Zimbabwe begins nationwide public hearings on the Bill this week, concerns are also mounting over the fairness of the consultation process.

Reports indicate that pro-government mobilisation efforts have intensified, with presidential adviser Paul Tungwarara allegedly distributing cash, bicycles and food hampers at a rally in Mhondoro-Mubaira to rally support for the amendment.

Civil society organisations have raised concerns over alleged selective policing, claiming authorities are blocking anti-amendment gatherings while allowing pro-government events to proceed.

With political tensions escalating, opposition figures have warned that the dispute could spill into public unrest if not carefully managed, raising the stakes around one of the most contentious constitutional debates in recent years.