By Munacho Gwamanda-Acting President Constantino Chiwenga has issued a stern warning to Zanu PF factions seeking to sideline him from the party’s succession race, signalling escalating tensions with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp.
Speaking at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday during the burial of three national heroes, Chiwenga cautioned against “petty jealousy” and internal divisions.
His remarks are seen as a veiled rebuke to Mnangagwa loyalists pushing for the President to extend his constitutionally mandated two-term limit, effectively sidelining Chiwenga’s long-anticipated takeover.
“Lack of respect for each other and petty jealousy are mortal sins which cannot be forgiven here on earth and in heaven,” Chiwenga declared, urging party members to prioritize unity and national development. “What must always guide us is the need to shun hatred and to embrace each other through love, tolerance, and forgiveness.”
Chiwenga’s comments come as tensions deepen between the two camps within Zanu PF.
Mnangagwa allies are reportedly lobbying for constitutional amendments to enable the President to extend his stay in power beyond 2028, breaking an alleged post-coup agreement that would have seen Chiwenga succeed him after two terms.
Adding to the friction is the mysterious string of deaths of over 20 high-ranking military officers and political figures aligned with Chiwenga since the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe.
Prominent figures such as Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo and Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri have died under unclear circumstances, fueling speculation of a calculated purge designed to weaken Chiwenga’s power base.
“Mnangagwa has breached the gentlemen’s agreement,” said a senior Zanu PF insider. “The pattern of eliminating Chiwenga’s loyalists is not accidental—it’s a deliberate strategy to ensure he retains power unchallenged.”
The power struggle highlights Mnangagwa’s efforts to consolidate control within Zanu PF by neutralizing dissenters and weakening Chiwenga’s faction.
Political analysts warn this could spark a retaliatory response from Chiwenga, potentially plunging Zimbabwe into another violent crisis.
“Mnangagwa’s grip on power now depends on securing parliamentary loyalty and keeping the military neutralized,” observed another political analyst i. “But if Chiwenga’s camp continues to feel marginalized, they might see no alternative but to act decisively—possibly through another coup attempt.”
The rising tension between the President and his deputy is a grim reminder of Zanu PF’s history of internal factionalism and violent disputes.