Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday issued a stern warning to members of the ruling ZANU PF party, cautioning against divisive tactics and factional maneuvering that he said threaten the unity and ideological clarity of the movement.
Addressing a meeting of the party’s politburo in Harare, Mnangagwa underscored that ZANU PF’s strength has always rested on collective responsibility and discipline. He said the reemergence of succession debates and factional undercurrents ahead of the 2027 elective congress and the 2028 general elections was destabilizing and had no place in the party’s culture.
“Tactics and political chicanery meant to mislead, confuse, as well as divide the party and nation must be nipped in the bud,” Mnangagwa told the gathering. “We must all speak with one voice and march in one direction. Leaders of the party are bound by collective responsibility and must unite around party decisions and resolutions which serve as our ideological and moral compass.”
The president’s comments come at a time when internal squabbles are beginning to spill into the public arena, with senior party figures engaging in open clashes over succession and future leadership. Mnangagwa, who has consistently stated that he will step down at the end of his current term, is nonetheless under pressure from certain loyalists who are pushing for a constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his rule until 2030.
The succession debate intensified in July following a heated dispute within the party over the possible elevation of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the ZANU PF central committee. Legal affairs secretary Patrick Chinamasa declared that Tagwirei’s admission was inevitable, suggesting that his involvement was both strategic and necessary for the party’s future. However, party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa sharply contradicted him, insisting the matter was closed and sparking speculation of widening divisions among the top brass.
Mnangagwa Warns Against Divisive Elements in ZANU PF as Succession Tensions Simmer
In his address, Mnangagwa reminded senior figures that discipline in communication was essential. He appeared to rebuke those who have been making unilateral pronouncements on sensitive issues without consulting party structures.
“You don’t dream at your home and come and claim this is a party position,” Mnangagwa said pointedly. “Our communication must be disciplined. In ZANU PF, we stand with the truth. Tendencies of ivory tower syndrome, which divorce the party from the grassroots, must be avoided at all costs.”
Political analysts note that Mnangagwa’s statement is as much a call for order as it is a signal to those jostling for influence that premature succession talk risks eroding the party’s cohesion. With the 2027 congress still two years away, speculation has already mounted over potential successors, including Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, both of whom have strong support bases but are wary of appearing too eager.
While warning against indiscipline, Mnangagwa also sought to encourage positive trends within the party. He praised the ZANU PF youth league for moving away from a culture of mere slogans and rallies toward concrete programs that emphasize innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.
“The renewed focus of the youth league on empowerment, production and productivity as well as innovation and developing skills for the future is a welcome development,” Mnangagwa said. “This reflects maturity and readiness to take up spaces in social, economic and technological spheres.”
Observers have long noted that ZANU PF’s future stability hinges on its ability to strike a balance between managing internal leadership contests and responding to the broader socio-economic challenges facing Zimbabweans. By praising the youth wing, Mnangagwa appeared to be signaling a desire for the younger generation to anchor the party’s renewal while senior leaders focus on governance and stability.
The president’s remarks also come as Zimbabwe positions itself for increased regional engagement. Mnangagwa is today expected to host his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will preside over the official opening of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in Harare. The visit is being viewed as a significant gesture of solidarity at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to deepen trade and investment ties with its southern neighbor.
As the politburo meeting ended, Mnangagwa’s message was clear: ZANU PF must resist the temptation of factional battles and instead project unity ahead of the critical political contests that lie ahead. Whether his warnings will be heeded remains to be seen, but with succession debates already shaping the party’s internal dynamics, the president’s call for discipline underscores the delicate balancing act of maintaining cohesion while preparing for leadership renewal.
Source- Bulawayo24
