A scheduled ZANU PF Politburo meeting on October 9, 2026, was abruptly cancelled, revealing a deep-seated rift between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. The meeting's cancellation was not due to administrative reasons, but rather a direct clash over proposals to rewrite the party's constitution. The proposed changes aim to align the party's constitution with the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, which extended Mnangagwa's term from 2028 to 2030.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, fundamentally altered Zimbabwe's political architecture, extending the terms of the president, parliament, and local authorities from five to seven years. The new law also changed the process of electing the president, replacing the direct popular election with election by a joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly. As a result, ZANU PF must revise its own constitution to comply with the national changes. Party legal affairs secretary and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed that the Legal Standing Committee was instructed to align the party document with the national amendments.
The proposed constitutional changes have sparked a heated debate within ZANU PF, with Mnangagwa's allies framing the reforms as necessary for continuity and the completion of infrastructure projects. On the other hand, Chiwenga's camp views the changes as an effort to postpone the succession transition, consolidate Mnangagwa's authority, and restrict Chiwenga's route to the highest office. The present confrontation is the latest chapter in a succession struggle that began with the military-assisted transfer of power in November 2017.
The alliance that removed Robert Mugabe from power in 2017 contained competing interests from the outset. Chiwenga's military and war-veteran networks expected a structured transition, while Mnangagwa's political and business networks sought to consolidate control. No settled succession arrangement acceptable to both sides ever emerged. After the 2018 and 2023 elections, the five-year presidential term pointed towards a 2028 transition, which mattered to Chiwenga and those who regarded him as the natural successor.
The campaign to extend Mnangagwa's tenure gained momentum through provincial resolutions and public advocacy, culminating in the parliamentary passage of Amendment No. 3. Once the national constitution changed, the party constitution became the next instrument of power. Control of candidate selection, the timing of congresses, and the criteria for leadership positions would determine whether the 2028 timetable survived or was replaced by a longer horizon favourable to the incumbent.
The rise of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei has intensified the rivalry within ZANU PF. Co-opted into the Central Committee amid sharp internal resistance, Tagwirei later received a Senate seat under the new presidential appointment powers and was appointed Minister of Economic Development and Investment Promotion. Chiwenga and his allies have long viewed the rise of wealthy businessmen with close ties to the presidency as a threat to the party's liberation character.
The death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo on September 30, 2026, added a personal dimension to the power struggle. Chivayo, a flamboyant philanthropist closely associated with Mnangagwa, was declared a provincial hero. His funeral on October 8 drew senior party and government figures, with reports that Chiwenga boycotted the ceremony, interpreted within political circles as a deliberate signal of distance from the patronage networks surrounding the president.
Key points
- A cancelled Politburo meeting exposed divisions within ZANU PF over President Emmerson Mnangagwa's extended tenure and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga's presidential ambitions.
- The proposed constitutional changes aim to align the party's constitution with the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, which extended Mnangagwa's term from 2028 to 2030.
- The power struggle within ZANU PF has intensified with the rise of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and the death of Wicknell Chivayo, adding a personal dimension to the rivalry.
