TENSIONS flared during a Zanu PF Central Committee meeting as senior officials sparred over the “The tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, have escalated as the push for the term extension gathered momentum.” campaign, which has exposed deep divisions within the former liberation movement.
The Zimbabwe Independent learnt that the push to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028 has gained backing from all 10 party provinces, with a resolution expected to be endorsed at this weekend’s National People’s Conference in Bulawayo.
However, the resolution must be brought before a congress, scheduled for 2017, before implementation. The party can also call for an extraordinary congress.
The tension was palpable as senior Zanu PF officials gathered at the party headquarters in Harare for the Central Committee meeting on Wednesday.
The ED2030 campaign has stirred divisions within the party, despite Mnangagwa’s repeated assertions that he is a “constitutionalist” committed to stepping down when his term expires in 2028.
The tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, have escalated as the push for the term extension gathered momentum.
The issue was discussed for more than two hours at the Central Committee meeting — the ruling party’s highest decision-making body outside an elective congress.
Concerns about internal fighting surfaced, especially after a report by the party’s national political commissar, Munyaradzi Machacha, pointed to factionalism.
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According to the Central Committee members who attended the meeting, Chiwenga, in his comments, urged the party to avoid the disunity that had characterised events leading up to the 2017 military intervention that ousted the late Robert Mugabe.
He warned against the rampant indiscipline in the party, which he said was causing divisions and infighting.
“The tension was definitely there and you could feel it in the room. Chiwenga said we want unity. He said ‘We don’t want to go back to the 2017 period’, leaving his words open to interpretation,” a top Zanu PF official said.
“The President was silent on the issue. He did not respond to the calls for 2030 extension. He spoke about the need for discipline and unity in the party, consistency and perseverance so that they achieve the 2030 Vision. The ED2030 slogan was not banned, but the President pointed out that it was not an official slogan. What was also interesting was that no one chanted the ED2030 slogan during the Central Committee meeting.”
This is not the first time that Mnangagwa and Chiwenga have denounced factionalism in the party, saying there was no room for such within Zanu PF.
Zanu PF national chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, delivered a forceful warning against factionalism within the party, announcing plans to tackle the divisive issue after the conference across all provinces, beginning with Harare.
According to Central Committee members, Muchinguri-Kashiri spoke with fiery determination, declaring that “heads will roll” as she aims to restore unity and discipline.
Some Central Committee members linked the recent petrol bombing of Harare provincial chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa’s business premise to Zanu PF tensions.
Masimirembwa highlighted deep divisions within Harare, attributing them to disputes over the party’s succession matrix. He pointed out that these divisions were fuelling tension and affecting unity within Zanu PF in the province.
Several Central Committee members expressed their support for Mnangagwa’s continued leadership, declaring that he has achieved more in his seven years in power than the previous administration, according to sources who attended the meeting.
“We support you, President,” one member said. “We will support you if you decide to stay until 2030.”
In separate briefings with Zanu PF Central Committee members, it emerged that Mnangagwa was silent on the issue during the debate.
One Central Committee member said: “The discussion started after the national political commissar presented his report. It was the last item on the agenda. The first to speak said ‘we support you president, we will support you if you decide you want to die in office’.
“Another Central Committee member then weighed in saying that ‘president munotigonera (you are doing very well), there has been so much development in the country since you took over, you have done more in the seven years that you have been in power.
“We will support you if you want to continue to 2030. We are fully behind you. Another person said ‘we were bombed because we are supporting you’.
“I can also tell you that there is no doubt who is in charge; the President is definitely in charge. But you also know Zanu PF is very fluid. Members expected the President to address the issue, either by shutting it down or saying something about it.”
However, dissent arose when Politburo member Andy Mhlanga was booed for endorsing Mnangagwa’s statements about stepping down in 2028.
“Mhlanga was booed when he said that they would follow the President’s lead if he chose to step down,” one source said.
Another Central Committee member said: “All 10 provinces have already resolved to extend his term. If this resolution is adopted on Saturday, it will be a clear sign that the President plans to stay on.”
Despite the outward show of party unity, reports of internal friction have gained traction, fuelled by social media speculation and leaked images of T-shirts allegedly printed in support of Chiwenga.
The unease within the party ranks has grown, with Chiwenga’s allies reportedly expressing strong opposition to the ED2030 campaign.
“Both Mnangagwa and Chiwenga would, at all cost, want to avoid a scenario that could embarrass the party in front of a watching world,” a top Zanu PF official said. “There is already tension, especially after the controversial war veterans league congress in Gweru this month and reports of the youth league pushing the 2030 agenda.
“What is certain is that the two leaders are aware of the consequences of the rift playing out in public because Chiwenga’s people have shown their disdain for the 2030 push.”
In response to these concerns, Senate President Mabel Chinomona distanced herself from a circulating photograph promoting a vice-presidential bid.
The Central Committee resolved to push for prosecuting of those spreading misinformation under the Cyber and Data Security Act, reflecting the party’s efforts to try and control the narrative.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, while addressing the press on Wednesday, acknowledged that the Central Committee meeting had discussed the matter.
He, however, dismissed reports of a rift as “social media hullabaloo”.
“There are issues which people are raising because I do not want to look like we dodge issues. There was a lot of hullabaloo on social media about this and that,” Mutsvangwa said.
“But like we always assure you, Zanu PF is a structured party with a very, very strong kinship which has known each other through thick and thin for the good part of the last 40 to 50 years.”
