Harare, Zimbabwe – A recording of a heated exchange between a senior Zanu-PF official and a retired general has exposed a simmering power struggle within the ruling party, centred on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s future and a controversial campaign to extend his rule beyond 2030.
The audio reveals Simon Muchafa, a member of the Zanu-PF provincial executive in Masvingo, openly declaring his province’s support for Mnangagwa’s continued presidency, explicitly rejecting any potential successor from outside Masvingo.
Muchafa’s outburst, directed at retired army general Engelbert Rugeje, a known ally of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, reveals a deep-seated regionalism within the party. “General, if you are the one who wants to be president, we will support you, not what you are imposing on us to return the presidency to those who come from Mashonaland,” Muchafa stated in the recording. He further criticised Rugeje for failing to attend a provincial meeting where the “2030 project,” aimed at extending Mnangagwa’s tenure, was endorsed.
“If you don’t give us anyone from Masvingo, I won’t support them. I love President Mnangagwa because he is from Masvingo,” Muchafa declared, highlighting the strong regional loyalty underpinning the campaign. He justified this stance by referencing Robert Mugabe’s long rule, arguing that Masvingo, as a key voting bloc, deserves continued representation in the presidency.
“Mugabe ruled for so many years and we have had just two terms and you want us to go already, yet we are the majority voters,” he added defiantly.
He even threatened, “If you are going to fire me from the party, you will fire me together with my President, Mnangagwa.”
Rugeje confirmed listening to the recording but declined to comment directly on Muchafa’s accusations, stating, “He was not talking directly to me, though he mentioned my name…That I can’t comment.” Zanu-PF commissar Munyaradzi Machacha claimed ignorance of the audio, stating, “I wouldn’t be knowing what would be happening in every province at every given time…The provincial chairpersons would be better placed to respond to specific questions in their provinces.” This response highlights a potential lack of central control over the unfolding events within the party.
The “2030 for ED” campaign, openly championed by loyalists including Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Owen Ncube and Local Government minister Daniel Garwe, directly contradicts Mnangagwa’s public statements respecting the constitutional two-term limit.
The campaign’s tribal undertones, with a clear preference for a Masvingo candidate – Mnangagwa is from the Karanga sub-group of the Shona people, while Chiwenga is Zezuru – have raised serious concerns among senior Zanu-PF officials.
“The tribal dimension to the divisive campaign sets a dangerous precedence not only for the party, but the country as well,” one unnamed senior official commented.
The implications of this power struggle extend beyond Masvingo. Recent inter-district meetings in Zaka and Chiredzi focused heavily on the 2030 agenda, serving as a platform to identify and potentially purge opponents. This crackdown is particularly evident in Mashonaland East, Chiwenga’s home province, where several provincial executive members have been suspended for alleged links to Chiwenga. Similar purges are expected in other areas.
Despite claims by Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu that the meetings are routine, the timing and focus strongly suggest a concerted effort to consolidate support for Mnangagwa’s extended rule.
Mpofu stated, “Zanu PF has always had meetings to discuss various party issues to consult people on party affairs…So, what could be peculiar about this one which you are talking about? I don’t think there would be a specific meeting on what you are talking about (the 2030 agenda) because Zanu PF meets all the time.” However, the widespread reports of purges and the focus on the 2030 agenda strongly contradict this assertion.
The resistance to the 2030 project is not limited to Chiwenga’s allies. Reports indicate that even within the party’s Harare structures, the campaign has sparked infighting and open dissent. Goodwills Masimirembwa, a Zanu-PF Harare provincial member, was reportedly booed by war veterans for chanting the 2030 slogan at a recent meeting. This internal conflict threatens to destabilise the party further and potentially lead to widespread chaos.
