HARARE – A wave of violence has engulfed Zanu PF, culminating in the shocking petrol-bombing of Zanu PF Harare deputy chairperson Ephraim Pfundukwa’s Harare South home on Monday.
The incident at Pfundukwa’s residence represents a dramatic escalation of the internal power struggle, raising serious concerns about the stability of the party and the potential for further violence. Police have yet to comment on this latest attack, leaving many to speculate on the motives and perpetrators.
The attack on Masimirembwa’s offices on Sunday morning, while significant in its own right, serves as a grim prelude to the assault on Pfundukwa’s home. Unknown assailants firebombed the offices, housed within the Zimbabwe Institute of Legal Studies, leaving the security guard with severe burns covering nearly 80% of his body.
The guard is currently battling for his life at Parirenyatwa Hospital. Masimirembwa himself described the scene, stating, “What happened is, I was phoned by our administrator of this college, which I own and told that around 4 am this place was petrol bombed. The people who came here, about eight bouncers in two Fortuner vehicles and a Honda Fit. They were carrying petrol with them in a container. They attacked our guard, made him lie down and beat him up, poured petrol on him and burnt him.
“As it is, he is struggling for his life at Parirenyatwa Hospital. He has over 80 percent burns. They threw a petrol bomb and they ran away. That is basically what happened. Clearly, these people did not come to rob or steal anything. It is something else. It was one office mainly where the petrol bomb landed. I think their hope was the place would then catch fire, but fortunately that did not happen.”
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident at Masimirembwa’s offices, stating, “We are conducting investigations over the matter and we will issue a statement in due course.”
A police team collected evidence, but the motive remains unclear. The timing of the attack, however, is highly suspicious given Masimirembwa’s outspoken support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s potential third term, a highly contentious issue within Zanu PF.
Masimirembwa and Pfundukwa’s public advocacy for constitutional amendments to extend Mnangagwa’s rule beyond 2028, often referred to as “ED 2030,” has made them prominent figures in the ongoing debate.
Two months ago, Masimirembwa stated, “The most pressing issue is that the Constitution of Zimbabwe needs to be amended to allow him to remain in power beyond 2028. We are aware of the constitutional restrictions; it currently states that the President can serve a maximum of two terms, each lasting five years. There is a possibility of either extending the duration of each term, increasing the term limit from two terms to three or removing the term limit entirely.”
He further suggested that the clause preventing amendments from benefiting the incumbent could be repealed, stating, “However, this too could be changed to ensure that the current President, Mnangagwa, benefits from any amendment that extends the term length or removes the term limits altogether.”
This push for a third term has created significant friction within Zanu PF, particularly with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, a potential successor. While Chiwenga hasn’t publicly declared his ambitions, intense manoeuvring within the party suggests a power struggle is underway. Sources within Zanu PF reveal that provinces are under pressure to endorse Mnangagwa’s continued rule until 2030, a move intended to pre-empt any challenge from Chiwenga.
Adding another layer of complexity, the military, a powerful force in Zimbabwean politics, reportedly opposes any extension of Mnangagwa’s presidency. A military insider, speaking anonymously, stated: “The army’s stance is unequivocal. The President is required to complete his constitutional second term and retire in 2028. From a military perspective, he should not have even been eligible for a second term. Although he publicly agrees to retire in 2028, he is privately signaling his supporters to push for a constitutional amendment to extend his term until 2030. This proposal is unpopular among the security forces and the general public, with only a few self-interested individuals supporting it.”
