CHIWENGA -President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inner circle — derisively known in Zanu PF circles as Zvigananda, a group of loyalists, opportunists, and political power brokers — has successfully manoeuvred Vice President Constantino Chiwenga out of the ruling party’s succession race. The latest move, orchestrated during the just-ended Zanu PF Annual People’s Conference in Mutare, effectively sealed Mnangagwa’s control of the party and quashed any lingering hopes of a leadership transition in 2028.
The Zvigananda faction, reportedly led by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, used the conference to push through the so-called “ED2030 Agenda” — a campaign to extend Mnangagwa’s stay in office beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms. The Mutare conference adopted a controversial resolution endorsing the extension of Mnangagwa’s rule until at least 2030, a move analysts say has buried Chiwenga’s long-standing presidential ambitions and tightened the president’s already formidable grip on power.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed the development on X (formerly Twitter), outlining the resolutions adopted at the conference. “Main Highlights of the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference Resolutions: In recognition of the extensive development achieved under the leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, his term of office be extended from 2028–2030. Party and Government are urged to do the needful to ensure all constitutional legalities are in place before next year’s conference,” Mangwana posted.
He further noted that the Zanu PF Women’s League and War Veterans League had also endorsed the proposal, praising Mnangagwa’s “visionary leadership” and urging the party to formalize the extension ahead of the 2026 elective conference.
Mnangagwa Loyalists Push Chiwenga Out of Zanu PF Succession Race
For years, Vice President Chiwenga has been viewed as Mnangagwa’s most serious internal rival. A retired army general and key architect of the 2017 military coup that ousted the late Robert Mugabe, Chiwenga was once believed to have a “gentleman’s agreement” with Mnangagwa — that he would assume the presidency after Mnangagwa’s first term. That pact now appears to have been shattered beyond repair.
Since 2018, Mnangagwa has methodically consolidated control of both the party and the state. He has restructured the military’s command, appointed loyalists to strategic positions in government and the security sector, and reshaped provincial and politburo structures to weaken Chiwenga’s influence. The Mutare conference marked the culmination of that long campaign — a public display of Mnangagwa’s dominance and Chiwenga’s political isolation.
A senior Zanu PF insider, speaking anonymously, described the conference outcome as “a decisive blow” to Chiwenga’s succession ambitions. “ED has neutralized his biggest internal threat. Chiwenga no longer has the numbers, the structures, or the trust of the president’s inner circle. The Mutare resolutions make it clear that the party will rally behind Mnangagwa — not his deputy — going forward,” the source said.
Political analysts say Mnangagwa’s triumph at the Mutare conference was as much about consolidating his personal power as it was about rewriting the party’s succession narrative. “What Mnangagwa has done is use the party machinery to present himself as indispensable to Zanu PF’s stability and survival,” said a Harare-based political analyst. “By invoking development rhetoric and projecting himself as the custodian of national progress, he has managed to silence dissent within the party — especially from the Chiwenga camp.”
The “ED2030” slogan, which dominated banners and speeches throughout the conference, has become the rallying cry of Mnangagwa’s loyalists. They argue that extending his leadership is necessary to “complete ongoing development projects” and ensure “continuity of Vision 2030,” the president’s economic modernization blueprint.
However, critics say the move signals a dangerous return to authoritarian politics. Extending Mnangagwa’s rule would require constitutional amendments — a step that could erode democratic principles and further entrench one-man rule. Opposition figures and civil society groups have already condemned the proposal as “unconstitutional and self-serving,” warning that it could plunge the country into renewed political instability.
By the time the conference concluded on Saturday, the message from Mutare was unmistakable: Mnangagwa remains firmly in charge, and succession talk is off the table. His loyalists — the Zvigananda — have once again proven their political agility, outmaneuvering Chiwenga and securing Mnangagwa’s dominance in both party and state.
For Chiwenga, once hailed as the kingmaker of 2017, the future now looks uncertain. His influence within the party has waned, his military backers have been scattered, and his presidential hopes appear to have been extinguished — at least for now.
As Zanu PF marches forward under the banner of “ED2030,” Mnangagwa’s grip on power has never been tighter. But behind the public displays of unity and celebration in Mutare lies a party still haunted by unresolved rivalries — and a nation watching closely to see how far its leader will go to secure his legacy.
Source- ZimEye
