By Munacho Gwamanda-Zanu PF is set to expel two Members of Parliament linked to Chiwenga’s faction as the ongoing power struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Gutu East MP Benjamin Ganyiwa and Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila are the two facing the axe, as part of Mnangagwa’s broader strategy to consolidate power and eliminate potential challengers ahead of the 2028 elections.
The Masvingo Zanu PF provincial leadership has already signalled that Ganyiwa should vacate his seat, with party structures reportedly preparing for a by-election.
Meetings have been held across various wards, including Chinyika, Mandeya, and Makudo, where local leaders informed supporters that Ganyiwa had been dismissed.
However, the official stance from Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Chairman Rabson Mavhenyengwa is that Ganyiwa is merely under a 21-day prohibition order pending final disciplinary proceedings.
The charges against him include failing to reprimand party supporters attacking leadership in a WhatsApp group, holding unauthorized meetings, and allegedly promoting factionalism.
Bhila, on the other hand, faces three charges, including verbally insulting a party member and allegedly using violence against party rivals.
The internal purge comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions within Zanu PF, with Mnangagwa increasingly wary of Chiwenga’s growing influence.
The rift between the two leaders, which began shortly after the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, has deepened over the years.
Chiwenga, the former military general who played a decisive role in Mnangagwa’s ascension to power, has been steadily sidelined as Mnangagwa consolidates his grip on state institutions and party structures.
Mnangagwa’s push for the #ED2030 agenda—a bid to extend his rule beyond his current term—has met resistance from within, particularly from military-backed Chiwenga loyalists.
The removal of MPs seen as aligned with Chiwenga signals a preemptive move by Mnangagwa to neutralize potential dissent within the party.
The latest disciplinary actions also coincide with reports of mounting discontent within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), where factions loyal to Chiwenga are reportedly growing uneasy over Mnangagwa’s consolidation of power.
The firing of Ganyiwa and Bhila has reignited speculation about the possibility of another coup in Zimbabwe.
While Mnangagwa has worked tirelessly to weaken Chiwenga’s influence, reports suggest that sections of the militaryremain sympathetic to the Vice President.
This has fueled fears that any further sidelining of Chiwenga and his allies could provoke a military response similar to the one that led to Mugabe’s downfall.
Several high-ranking security officials have privately expressed concerns about Mnangagwa’s moves, with some suggesting that Chiwenga’s patience is wearing thin.
Unlike in 2017, however, the current political climate is different—Mnangagwa has fortified his grip on intelligence agencies and purged several senior military officers linked to Chiwenga.
Yet, history has shown that Zimbabwe’s politics remains unpredictable, and if tensions within the security sector escalate, the possibility of another military intervention cannot be ruled out.
For now, Mnangagwa remains in control, but the ongoing factional battles within Zanu PF suggest that Zimbabwe’s political landscape remains fragile.
The fate of Ganyiwa and Bhila will likely set the tone for future internal party purges, as Mnangagwa seeks to weaken Chiwenga’s base further.
Meanwhile, speculation over Chiwenga’s next move—whether he will continue to play along or take a decisive stand—continues to fuel uncertainty about Zimbabwe’s future.