By Political Reporter- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for an urgent Politburo meeting today to avert an all-out internal bloodbath as his supporters and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga lock in a fierce power struggle that threatens to tear Zanu PF apart as the party’s national conference begins.

On Sunday, the Harare provincial offices of Zanu PF chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa were firebombed in a brazen attack suspected to have been carried out by Chiwenga loyalists.

The assailants believed to oppose Mnangagwa’s plans to extend his rule beyond the 2028 constitutional mandate, also poured petrol on one of Masimirembwa’s security personnel, setting him alight.

The victim’s condition remains unknown, and police have launched an investigation into the attack.

Masimirembwa, a staunch ally of Mnangagwa, has been vocal in backing the president’s controversial bid to extend his presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit.

This stance has placed him squarely in the sights of Chiwenga’s faction, which is increasingly frustrated by Mnangagwa’s apparent reluctance to honour an alleged deal made during the 2017 military coup that ousted former President Robert Mugabe.

Sources within the party suggest that the agreement stipulated Mnangagwa would serve two terms before handing over power to Chiwenga, the mastermind behind the coup.

However, Mnangagwa is reportedly mobilising his supporters—particularly within the party’s youth wing and women’s league—to secure his extended rule, sparking violent reprisals from Chiwenga’s camp.

This faction is said to include both active and retired military figures who played pivotal roles in the 2017 coup.

Despite the intensifying internal strife, Zanu PF’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Christopher Mutsvangwa, sought to downplay the unrest, emphasising the significance of the upcoming conference, which is set to kick off in Bulawayo on Friday.

“Conferences are very important because Zanu PF is a party with structures,” Mutsvangwa stated. “When people come to the conference, we are taking stock of our party policy. Remember, party policy is what guides government policy—the party is supreme.”

As the conference looms, the internal power struggle and violent clashes continue to overshadow the event, raising concerns about the stability of Zimbabwe’s ruling party.