As Zanu-PF gears up for its annual conference in Mutare from 13 to 18 October, internal tensions within the ruling party have intensified, with factions clashing over succession plans and the controversial 2030 agenda. The upcoming gathering, widely regarded as a litmus test for the party’s future direction, has exposed deep divisions between Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s camp and forces loyal to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Wednesday, Chiwenga flexed his considerable influence by forcing political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha to remove a key section from his politburo report that proposed co-opting party members into the Central Committee. The move effectively blocked multi-millionaire tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a prominent Zanu-PF benefactor and Mnangagwa ally, from advancing his political ambitions. Tagwirei has long been speculated to harbor presidential ambitions, though he publicly denies such intentions. Analysts say co-option into the Central Committee and the politburo would have provided him with a critical platform to position himself for future leadership roles.
Chiwenga, who chairs a presidium committee tasked with resolving the co-option deadlock, was joined by party chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and secretary-general Obert Mpofu. The presidium’s intervention underscores how the co-option question has become a central battlefield in the struggle between Mnangagwa’s faction and Chiwenga’s camp, both maneuvering to consolidate influence over the succession process.
Chiwenga Bars Tagwirei from Politburo Agenda
Although Mnangagwa has repeatedly pledged to step down in 2028 at the end of his second term, his allies are reportedly pushing for a 2030 extension—or even a potential third term—leveraging party machinery, financial clout, and strategic donations. Tagwirei, a major financial supporter of Zanu-PF, has been at the center of this dynamic. He has poured substantial resources into party operations, funded the maintenance of Zanu-PF headquarters, and donated millions to grassroots structures, moves widely interpreted as backing Mnangagwa’s extended stay and the 2030 agenda.
Efforts to admit Tagwirei into the Central Committee were consistently blocked by Chiwenga, who cited procedural irregularities and flagged concerns over the use of wealth to secure party positions. Party spokesman Chris Mutsvangwa echoed this view, openly criticizing Tagwirei for leveraging financial influence to gain decision-making authority. Even though legal affairs secretary Patrick Chinamasa had claimed that Tagwirei’s co-option had been approved, Chiwenga’s decisive intervention removed the matter from both the politburo report and the Central Committee agenda, leaving the issue unresolved in the lead-up to the Mutare conference.
The use of financial incentives to consolidate influence has extended beyond Tagwirei. Tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo reportedly gifted ten provincial chairpersons Land Cruiser 300 Series VXR vehicles along with cash injections. Such largesse is widely viewed as a direct attempt to sway party officials in favor of the 2030 agenda and shape the outcome of succession deliberations. Observers note that these high-value contributions highlight the growing role of wealth in internal party politics, raising questions about the integrity of decision-making processes within Zanu-PF.
With the co-option issue frozen and Tagwirei effectively sidelined, Chiwenga has demonstrated his political clout, sending a clear signal that he is a formidable force in shaping the party’s future. Analysts suggest that his actions have not only protected his camp’s influence but also set the stage for a high-stakes confrontation at the Mutare conference, where succession, party governance, and the 2030 agenda will likely dominate discussions.
In the coming weeks, party insiders anticipate intensified maneuvering as Mnangagwa’s allies continue to push for the controversial 2030 resolution. Meanwhile, Chiwenga and his supporters are expected to mobilize to block any unconstitutional extension of the president’s tenure. The conference has become a focal point for factional jockeying, making it a critical flashpoint in Zanu-PF’s internal politics.
Observers warn that the outcomes of the Mutare gathering will have far-reaching implications, not only for the party’s internal control but also for Zimbabwe’s broader political landscape. The decisions made—and the alliances forged or broken—could chart the course for the nation’s succession roadmap, determining whether Mnangagwa’s faction consolidates power or whether Chiwenga’s camp asserts its influence over the party’s trajectory.
As the date of the conference approaches, all eyes remain on Mutare, where the battle for Zanu-PF’s future and Zimbabwe’s political succession will be played out in full view.
Source- Bulawayo24
