MUTARE – A faction within Zanu-PF, reportedly backing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2028, has emerged from the recently concluded Zanu-PF National People’s Conference significantly weakened. The conference, held in Mutare, became a platform for Mnangagwa’s loyalists to consolidate their power and diminish Chiwenga’s succession hopes.
The conference commenced with a tense Politburo meeting at the party headquarters, setting the stage for what would become an intensified campaign against Chiwenga’s faction. This internal strife was further fuelled by Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, who issued a robust response to Chiwenga’s earlier expressions of concern regarding the alleged capture of the party by a cabal of influential figures. Ziyambi’s statement served as a clear declaration of the escalating conflict within the ruling party.
Adding to the complexity, a leaked dossier, purportedly authored by Chiwenga, alleges that Zanu-PF intends to introduce a document titled Breaking Barriers Initiative (BBI) in Parliament. This initiative purportedly aims to suspend elections and extend the terms of both the president and the legislature. However, political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya has dismissed the credibility of this document, which is said to be linked to Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-imposed Secretary General of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Ngwenya stated, “BBI is moribund because it tinkers with the illusion that you can simply change the constitution to achieve anything. My assumption is that not everyone within Zanu PF supports this agenda. They might not say it publicly, but it’s naïve to assume that if this matter goes to Parliament, it would automatically pass. BBI is just an academic document.”
At the heart of the matter is Zanu-PF’s ambition to amend the constitution, potentially allowing President Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond the 2028 elections. This move faces significant legal obstacles, including Section 91(2) of the constitution, which bars a president from seeking a third term, and Section 328(7), which prohibits an incumbent from benefiting from a constitutional amendment enacted during their tenure.
Zanu-PF’s spokesperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, told News24 that the party aims to extend Mnangagwa’s term by next year, aligning with what they term Agenda 2030 – an economic target of making Zimbabwe a middle-income country. “There’s a year to do this. It’s a resolution that was introduced last year, and it’s centred on the president’s achievements to date and the party’s goals for 2030,” he said.
According to Veritas, a legal resource centre, achieving this extension requires the government to “muster two-thirds majorities in both Houses of Parliament (Senate and Parliament)”. Currently, Zanu-PF maintains cordial relations with the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, a party Nelson Chamisa abandoned following allegations of infiltration by Zanu-PF.
The implications of a term extension for the president extend to senators and parliamentarians, whose terms would also be extended, allowing them to continue enjoying the benefits of their positions. This effectively transforms presidential and parliamentary terms in Zimbabwe into a seven-year cycle.
Vice President Chiwenga has openly criticised the Breaking Barriers Initiative (BBI), denouncing it as the creation of anti-democracy elements and making it clear that he opposes the presidential term extension. However, his concerns were overshadowed at the Zanu-PF conference, where Mutsvangwa accused him of “naked ambition” and harbouring treasonous ideas.
Within Zanu-PF, there is a faction opposed to Chiwenga’s ascendance. This group has reportedly earmarked Mnangagwa’s special advisor, businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, as the likely successor. At the conference, Tagwirei was co-opted into the powerful central committee, paving his way for a potential shot at the presidency when Mnangagwa’s term concludes.
Despite these challenges, Chiwenga has remained steadfast in opposing resolutions he deems not in the best interest of the citizens. In his address, he reminded delegates of the sacrifices made for Zimbabwe’s independence and democracy. He also highlighted how corruption is eroding public trust and undermining the achievements of independence.
Some opposition leaders have voiced their opposition to Zanu-PF’s intentions. Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume stated his commitment to “the constitutional and just case to stop the 2030 Agenda” because it seeks to “criminally change the national Constitution. If we allow this to happen, we then kill the country for future generations”.
Former legislator and finance minister Tendai Biti, via his X account, spoke out against the intended “capture” of the Constitution. Biti posted: “Our mandate is short and brief. We will defend the Constitution against its capture and manipulation to advance a dangerous, unconstitutional, anti-people agenda. We will fight corrupt cartels and syndicates that have systematically looted Zimbabwe and now want to take over the state.”
Similarly, Jameson Timba, another opposition figure, affirmed his commitment to ensuring that Zimbabwe continues to be “ruled by law, not party resolutions”.
Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya suggests that it would take an extraordinary strategy for Chiwenga to recover from the political setback suffered at the Zanu-PF conference. “The tragedy is that Chiwenga himself has not said he has any interest in succeeding Emmerson Mnangagwa. There are people talking on his behalf, the Bombshell Gezas, but Chiwenga has not publicly expressed interest in higher office,” Ngwenya noted.
He further drew parallels with Mnangagwa’s rise to power, stating, “However, from experience, we know that during the turbulence at the end of Robert Mugabe’s rule, Mnangagwa never openly declared his ambitions to succeed Mugabe. He kept quiet and did most of his machinations behind the scenes. So we might be hearing a lot of noise about the Chiwenga faction, but we do not know what is happening in the background. His silence says a lot because it would be unwise for him to speak openly about it now, whatever plans he may have. But from where I stand, given the mandate and legitimacy Mnangagwa enjoys within Zanu PF, it would take a miracle for Chiwenga to recover from this.”
Despite tensions within Zanu-PF and anger in opposition circles, plans are underway to potentially keep President Mnangagwa in office until he is 88 years old. Furthermore, there are proposals to declare his birthday a public holiday. Mnangagwa already has 10 roads named after him across the country, as well as an interchange bearing his moniker, Trabablas.
A survey conducted by Afrobarometer last year, after Zanu-PF made public its intentions to change the Constitution, revealed that 80% of respondents supported the present constitutional arrangement that limited presidential terms. The push for a constitutional amendment to extend President Mnangagwa’s term is therefore likely to face significant resistance, both within and outside Zanu-PF.
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