Mnangagwa, Chiwenga fights fuel primary election rigging

Zanu-PF's deepening internal power struggles are now erupting into public view, with mounting evidence that the ruling party is manipulating its own primary elections to marginalize rivals and entrench factional dominance ahead of the June 28 by-elections.

The party's decision to nullify results of the Insiza North primary election held on May 3, 2025 has triggered fresh controversy. In a statement, Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu cited failure "to meet the minimum accepted standards" as justification for the nullification. However, critics say the move reflects intensifying factional rifts and confirms long-standing suspicions that Zanu-PF's electoral manipulation tactics are now being weaponized internally.

Moses Langa, chairperson of the provincial Youth League, had secured a clear victory with 2,478 votes, defeating rivals Delani Moyo (1,564) and Dr Qhubani Moyo (983). His candidacy is now in limbo. Sources within the party allege procedural irregularities, including interference by rival factions aligned with key power brokers vying for post-Mugabe influence - most notably, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

Similar factional discord is plaguing Masvingo province, where a petition dated April 26 has accused senior officials of rigging the Chiredzi East Ward 4 primaries. The petition names provincial secretary for commissariat Brian Munyoro and district official Daniel Mawere in an alleged scheme to rig the vote in favour of Austin Phikelele, who won with 633 votes.

The petition - signed by four party members including Fanuel Mhlatiwa and Philemon Muvhundi - details the smuggling of pre-marked ballot papers, voting agents leaving stations mid-process, and a drastically shortened voting period from 11 am to 2 pm, which left many supporters unable to vote. Observers noted the schedule was allegedly altered to allow senior officials to attend the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), at the expense of democratic participation.

Contacted for comment, Munyoro dismissed responsibility, citing internal procedures, while provincial chairperson Rabson Mavhenyengwa claimed ignorance of the petition and criticised complainants for going to the media instead of using party channels.

Political analysts say these developments point to a broader crisis within Zanu-PF, where primary elections have devolved into fierce factional battles.

"The rigging we're seeing is not just about winning a seat - it's about securing control of the party machinery," a senior Zanu-PF official told this publication. "Every ward, every constituency has become a proxy war."

The infighting is already casting a shadow over preparations for the upcoming by-elections. The Insiza North seat became vacant following the death of Farai Taruvinga, while the Gutu East seat was triggered by the expulsion of Benjamin Ganyiwa. Though Langa and Zvarevashe Masvingise were announced as candidates for the respective constituencies, ongoing disputes threaten to derail both nominations.

The developments have also reignited concerns over the role of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which remains under fire for its management of the disputed 2023 elections. Civil society organisations and opposition parties warn that Zanu-PF's internal manipulation could bleed into national polls, with ZEC continuing to shield the ruling party from accountability.

Meanwhile, the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is expected to participate in the by-elections but faces a narrowing political space. Ongoing arrests of its leaders, intimidation of activists, and media restrictions have raised alarms about the fairness of the upcoming vote.

As Zanu-PF's internal fissures widen, analysts say the by-elections could serve as a preview of deeper instability within the ruling party - and a test of whether electoral processes, even within Zanu-PF itself, can withstand the pressures of factional warfare.