By Munacho Gwamanda-President Emmerson Mnangagwa Thursday held a panic meeting where he threatened to purge Zanu PF members linked to his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, as tensions escalate ahead of the planned March 31 national shutdown.
The panicked Central Committee meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare was overshadowed by Mnangagwa’s latest power play—a decisive move to weaken the Chiwenga faction and came just after he demoted Chiwenga ally, General Enselem Sanyatwa from heading the Army.
Mnangagwa abruptly removed Army Commander General Sanyatwe from his powerful post, relegating him to the largely ceremonial Ministry of Sports—a humiliating demotion.
In his place, Major General Emmanuel Matatu was swiftly installed as Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander, cementing Mnangagwa’s grip on the military.
Sanyatwe, a key Chiwenga ally, had been instrumental in bolstering the Vice President’s political ambitions, making his ouster a clear escalation of the factional war inside Zanu PF.
Mnangagwa’s speech took direct aim at internal dissenters, warning of severe consequences:
“To be a leader in our revolutionary mass party, Zanu PF, is never an entitlement or a right… A small clique of individuals is pursuing delusional ambitions and selfish interests. These rogue opportunists will soon meet their fate.”
With the March 31 protests looming, Mnangagwa reassured the nation that state security forces were primed to crush any unrest:
“Our state security infrastructure is in place to protect property and the safety of all Zimbabweans, from Plumtree to Mutare, Chirundu to Beitbridge.”
Once considered Mnangagwa’s natural successor for 2028, Chiwenga’s standing has been severely eroded. Since taking power, Mnangagwa has systematically purged Chiwenga’s allies, including the late Lieutenant General Edzai Chimonyo and Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo—both key architects of the 2017 coup.
Sanyatwe’s removal is just the latest in this pattern. Having previously commanded the Presidential Guard and played a controversial role in the 2018 post-election crackdown, his brief return to power in 2023 signaled Chiwenga’s attempt to regain ground.
However, Mnangagwa’s swift counterattack underscores the ongoing battle for supremacy—a fight that could determine who ultimately controls Zanu PF.
With Chiwenga battling health complications, Mnangagwa’s tightening grip on power raises the question: Is this the final chapter in Chiwenga’s political career?