Mnangagwa is at the center of escalating factional battles within Zanu-PF, as the ruling party’s internal power struggles spill into public view ahead of the crucial June 28 by-elections. Mounting evidence points to electoral manipulation designed to marginalize rivals and entrench factional dominance—an effort widely seen as driven by Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, in a bid to cement their influence in the post-Mugabe political era.
One of the most contentious incidents occurred following the Insiza North primary election held on May 3, 2025. The provincial leadership, led by Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, decided to nullify the election results, citing that they “failed to meet the minimum accepted standards.” This decision has sparked fresh controversy, with critics suggesting that the nullification is a clear sign of factional infighting within Zanu-PF. Many believe that this move reflects the party’s manipulation of its internal processes to eliminate rivals and reinforce factional control, especially as Mnangagwa and Chiwenga vie for greater power.
In the Insiza North primary, Moses Langa, the chairperson of the provincial Youth League, won with 2,478 votes, comfortably defeating his rivals Delani Moyo (1,564) and Dr. Qhubani Moyo (983). Despite his clear victory, Langa’s candidacy is now in jeopardy due to the party’s nullification of the results. Sources within the party suggest that rival factions, aligned with influential figures such as Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, have interfered in the election process to ensure that their chosen candidates emerge victorious, leaving Langa and other potential challengers sidelined.
This internal discord extends beyond Insiza North, with similar allegations surfacing in Masvingo province. A petition dated April 26, 2025, claims that senior officials in the province manipulated the Chiredzi East Ward 4 primaries. The petition accuses provincial secretary for commissariat Brian Munyoro and district official Daniel Mawere of orchestrating a scheme to rig the vote in favor of Austin Phikelele, who won with 633 votes. According to the petition, pre-marked ballot papers were smuggled into the election process, voting agents abandoned their stations, and the voting period was significantly shortened from 11 am to 2 pm, allegedly to accommodate senior officials attending the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). These irregularities have sparked anger among party members, who accuse the leadership of undermining the democratic process to favor certain candidates.
Munyoro has dismissed these allegations, attributing the irregularities to internal procedures, while provincial chairperson Rabson Mavhenyengwa has expressed ignorance of the petition and criticized the complainants for taking the matter to the media instead of following party channels.
Mnangagwa Faces Growing Factional Discord
Political analysts suggest that these developments highlight a deeper crisis within Zanu-PF, where the primary elections have become intense battlegrounds for control over the party machinery. A senior Zanu-PF official, who requested anonymity, pointed out, “The rigging we’re seeing isn’t just about winning a seat—it’s about securing control over the party machinery. Every ward and constituency has become a proxy war between factions.”
The growing factional infighting within Zanu-PF is already casting a shadow over the preparations for the upcoming by-elections. The vacant Insiza North seat followed the death of Farai Taruvinga, and the Gutu East seat was triggered by the expulsion of Benjamin Ganyiwa. Although Moses Langa and Zvarevashe Masvingise have been named as candidates for these constituencies, the ongoing disputes and the nullification of primary election results threaten to derail their nominations and further destabilize the party.
These internal conflicts have also reignited concerns about the role of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which has faced intense criticism for its handling of the 2023 elections. Civil society organizations and opposition parties are increasingly worried that Zanu-PF’s internal manipulation of its election process could extend to national elections, undermining the credibility of the electoral system. With Mnangagwa and Chiwenga each vying for greater influence, critics fear that ZEC’s continued inaction will allow the ruling party to maintain control over the political landscape without accountability.
Meanwhile, the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is gearing up for the by-elections, but faces significant challenges. The party is dealing with the ongoing arrest of its leaders, intimidation of activists, and media restrictions, which has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the upcoming vote. These actions have drawn attention to the increasingly restricted political space in Zimbabwe, where dissent and opposition to the ruling party are met with repression.
As Mnangagwa leadership faces mounting challenges from within his own party, analysts suggest that the by-elections could serve as a barometer for the future stability of Zanu-PF. These elections will test the party’s ability to maintain control over its processes amid the intensifying factional warfare. The outcome of these contests may not only shape the future of Mnangagwa’s leadership but also have broader implications for Zimbabwe’s political future.
The ongoing power struggles within Zanu-PF underscore the deepening factional rifts that are threatening the party’s unity and stability. As Mnangagwas country heads into the 2025 by-elections, these internal divisions could set the stage for a turbulent political environment in Zimbabwe. The future of the ruling party, and potentially the nation’s democratic processes, now hinges on whether these factional battles can be resolved without further undermining Zimbabwe’s political integrity.
Source- Bulawayo 24
