Factional battles within ZANU PF’s Manicaland Women’s League took centre stage over the weekend during a tense Provincial Co-ordination Committee (PCC) meeting in Mutare, where rival camps openly jostled for control and recognition.
The internal power struggle, which has reportedly divided the party’s top brass, played out in full view of senior party members and observers as two prominent figures — Mercy Sacco and Dorothy Mabika — fought for legitimacy as the provincial women’s league chairperson.
Sacco, the acting chairperson, is said to have the backing of ZANU PF secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa. Her rival, Mabika — a former provincial minister — is reportedly aligned with Senate President Mabel Chinomona, and is already being recognised as chairperson in certain party circles, despite controversy surrounding the legitimacy of her election earlier this year.
The standoff escalated dramatically during the PCC meeting when both Sacco and Mabika took seats at the high table, each claiming to be the rightful leader of the women’s league. The spectacle left party members visibly uneasy, and forced Chinamasa to publicly intervene in an attempt to contain the dispute.
“I am the secretary for legal affairs, and I must ensure the party constitution is followed,” Chinamasa said firmly during the proceedings. “The politburo will sit on July 4th to resolve this matter, and that outcome will be binding.”
Chinamasa insisted that Sacco remains the legitimate provincial chairperson, arguing that Mabika’s election had been overruled by senior party leadership due to procedural irregularities. The post became vacant after the suspension of Happiness Nyakuedzwa last year, a development that has since triggered the current succession dispute.
ZANU PF Women’s League Factional Fights Spill into Public View at Mutare Meeting
“I raised this issue in the politburo,” Chinamasa added. “That is why both women are sitting at the high table today — to avoid embarrassment while the issue is still under review.”
Despite Chinamasa’s intervention, some women’s league members at the meeting insisted Mabika was elected through proper channels, fuelling speculation that parallel structures may be forming within the provincial leadership.
“The people voted for Dorothy [Mabika],” said one women’s league delegate. “We don’t understand why her victory is not being recognised. This is creating unnecessary confusion and division.”
The rivalry between the two camps is widely seen as a proxy war between national party heavyweights, with Chinamasa and Chinomona seen to be representing opposing interests in ZANU PF’s ongoing internal restructuring. While both leaders have remained measured in public statements, insiders say the battle for control of Manicaland is part of broader manoeuvring ahead of future national elective processes.
The women’s league in Manicaland has traditionally played a crucial role in grassroots mobilisation and has often been seen as a bellwether for broader political shifts within ZANU PF. The current power wrangle, if left unresolved, could undermine the party’s cohesion in a province seen as a stronghold.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF’s information director, Farai Marapira, attempted to dismiss the reports of infighting as misinformation. “There are no factions in ZANU PF,” he said in response to queries. “What people are witnessing is vibrant internal engagement being mischaracterised by opposition elements. We are united and focused on strengthening the party.”
However, this explanation has done little to quell speculation that ZANU PF is once again grappling with internal divisions — especially within its influential women’s wing. The visual of two rivals seated side by side at the same high table, both claiming authority, has only added fuel to the narrative that factionalism is alive and well.
Political analysts say the open display of rivalry could have long-term consequences. “What’s happening in Manicaland is not isolated — it reflects wider succession and power debates within ZANU PF,” noted political commentator Edison Mavhunga. “If not properly managed, these kinds of internal battles can demoralise the grassroots and open opportunities for opposition gains.”
As the party awaits the politburo’s decision on July 4, tension remains high among women’s league members in Manicaland, with both Sacco and Mabika continuing to claim legitimacy.
Whether the politburo will be able to bring finality to the matter — and whether its decision will be accepted by all sides — remains to be seen. But for now, the public nature of ZANU PF’s internal divisions in Manicaland has laid bare the challenges of maintaining unity in a party increasingly preoccupied with internal power dynamics.
Source- Newsday
