By Munacho Gwamanda-Vice, President Constantino Chiwenga is under increasing pressure as President Emmerson Mnangagwa moves to consolidate his grip on power by purging key allies of the former military commander from Zanu PF.

Last week, the ruling party expelled eight members, including outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza, who has publicly challenged Mnangagwa to step down.

Among the high-profile casualties of the purge are Harare province political commissar Kudakwashe Damson, Zanu PF Gutu East MP Benjamin Ganyiwa, and former Harare South MP Godfrey Gomwe.

The internal purge signals an escalation of long-running tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, which date back to the 2017 military coup that ousted long-time ruler Robert Mugabe.

At the time, Chiwenga, then the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, played a pivotal role in installing Mnangagwa as president, with the expectation that he would be a key power broker.

However, relations between the two men have since soured, with Chiwenga’s ambitions to succeed Mnangagwa clashing with the president’s determination to extend his rule beyond 2028.

Geza, a known Chiwenga ally, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Mnangagwa’s leadership, openly calling for his resignation.

His expulsion from Zanu PF underscores Mnangagwa’s strategy of silencing dissent within party ranks, particularly among those aligned with the former military faction that brought him to power.

Zanu PF Manicaland political commissar Albert Nyakuedzwa warned that the recent expulsions were just the beginning, revealing that more party members were set to face the axe.

Addressing a gathering at a Zanu PF Makoni district coordinating committee meeting in Rusape on Sunday, Nyakuedzwa insisted that internal party discipline was paramount.

“Other provinces have written recommendations to the national disciplinary committee on the people who should be fired from the party, and you saw some have already been dismissed,” he said.

Nyakuedzwa also announced a controversial move to tighten surveillance over party members’ online activities, stating that all Zanu PF-affiliated social media groups must be registered with the party.

“We do not need people who attack our leaders. We have seen members using social media to insult our leadership. As Manicaland province, we have decided that all party groups should be officially registered so that we know who to approach if there are more incidents of indiscipline,” he added.

The latest crackdown comes as Mnangagwa pushes ahead with his contentious 2030 agenda, a party resolution aimed at extending his presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit.

While Mnangagwa’s camp insists the agenda is “not up for debate,” it has faced quiet resistance from some within Zanu PF, particularly from Chiwenga’s allies, who view it as a direct threat to their political ambitions.

Addressing the same gathering, newly appointed Makoni district coordinating committee (DCC) chairperson Kudzai Chipanga—who rose to prominence for organizing the infamous “One Million Man March” in support of Mugabe before his ouster—called for unity in the party, warning against internal divisions.
“We do not want divisions in the party. Those who are fanning divisions, you are warned,” he declared.

The latest purges add another layer to the long-running power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. After the 2017 coup, Chiwenga was widely expected to succeed Mnangagwa, but the president has methodically sidelined his deputy, reshuffling military and intelligence structures to dilute Chiwenga’s influence.

In 2020, Mnangagwa orchestrated a major shake-up in the military and security apparatus, replacing key figures seen as loyal to Chiwenga.

Tensions between the two escalated further during the 2023 elections, when factions aligned to Chiwenga reportedly opposed Mnangagwa’s re-election bid behind the scenes.

Despite presenting a united front publicly, insiders say the two camps have been locked in a cold war over the future leadership of Zanu PF.

With the latest purges, Mnangagwa appears determined to neutralise any lingering threats to his grip on power, setting the stage for an intensifying battle over Zimbabwe’s political future.