HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday tightened his grip on Zanu PF, demoting veteran politician Obert Mpofu from the powerful position of secretary general in what is widely seen as a move to weaken Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Mpofu, long aligned with Chiwenga, was reassigned to the relatively junior portfolio of secretary for Information Communication Technology. His sudden removal, analysts say, is a calculated effort by Mnangagwa to clip his deputy’s wings ahead of a crucial party conference in Mutare in two weeks.
Jacob Mudenda, until now the party’s treasurer, replaces Mpofu as secretary general – a demanding role that could force him to step down as Speaker of Parliament.
Former finance minister Patrick Chinamasa takes over the treasury, while his previous role as legal secretary has gone to justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Party spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa announced the reshuffle in a statement.
The realignment of Zanu PF’s hierarchy points to the deepening succession battle within the ruling party. Chiwenga was once viewed as the natural heir to Mnangagwa, whose second and final constitutional term ends in 2028. But Mnangagwa loyalists are pushing for constitutional changes to extend his tenure to 2030, a proposal strongly opposed by Chiwenga.
Adding to the intrigue, Mnangagwa is said to favour petroleum tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei as his potential successor, leveraging the businessman’s vast financial resources to secure loyalty from party organs.
Some of the president’s allies have privately urged him to remove Chiwenga as vice president to consolidate his power. Yet the move carries heavy risks: the retired general reportedly still commands influence within the military, which he led in toppling Robert Mugabe in 2017 – paving the way for Mnangagwa’s rise.
The Mutare conference is now shaping up as a flashpoint, with Mnangagwa’s succession plans and the party’s internal fractures likely to dominate proceedings.
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