Harare – The succession fights in Zimbabwe has reached another level as two camps that support President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga fight over plans to extend the incumbent’s stay in power until 2030.
Mnangagwa’s second and final term in office ends in 2028 according to the constitution of Zimbabwe. He is not allowed to rule beyond the mandatory two five year terms.
Standing on Mnangagwa’s side is most government ministers, rich corrupt tenderprenuers, senior ZANU PF officials and top members of the security apparatus.
The Mnangagwa camp plans to change the constitution to allow the veteran ruler who removed long ruling Robert Mugabe from power in a coup in November 2017 to stay in power until 2030.
But Chiwenga and his shadowy camp which fears to come out in the open are against the 2030 agenda.
Chiwenga’s camp wants the former army chief to replace Mnangagwa in 2028.
They accuse Mnangagwa, his family, rich individuals and some top party officials of corruption.
Sources said the situation is untenable as an open verbal fight is imminent between the fighting sides.
”The gloves are off. It will be a bare knuckle fight. All the sides of the factions are not going to be restrained. It will be an open fight,” a source close to the goings on in the succession matrix told Timely News.
The ZANU PF annual conference in Mutare will come at a time when divisions are taking the centre stage in the liberation party that was formed in 1963.
Most ZANU PF provinces have made resolutions to push the 2030 agenda calling on the party to again pass another resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s rule.
Mnangagwa’s camp boasts of tenderprenuers like Kuda Tagwirei and Wicknell Chivayo who have been using money to donate cash and cars to whoever they wish to garner support for the president.
However, the Chiwenga camp is not amused by Tagwirei and Chivhayo whom they accuse of being corrupt and using money gained from corrupt practices to infiltrate ZANU PF.
On Sunday Mnangagwa’s relative and supporter, Temba Mliswa put out a video threatening to expose corruption by Chiwenga.
Mliswa’s rants comes hot on the heels after Chiwenga told Mnangagwa in the politburo that Tagwirei and other corrupt people must be arrested.
The country is witnessing the same script of what happened before Mugabe was removed by the army led by Chiwenga in 2017.
When Mnangagwa was then vice president, he was constantly under attack from Mugabe loyalists who accused him of harbouring plans to replace Robert Mugabe.
After verbal attacks on each other between the Mugabe and Mnangagwa factions, the inevitable happened.
A coup took place on November 15, 2017 with army taking over the country.
One political analyst said the situation in Zimbabwe is fragile at the moment.
”Look at the war in Sudan between the generals and what is happening in South Sudan. Zimbabwe is no exception, things can turn south anytime. We are witnessing divisions within the top ranks of ZANU PF and government,” one analyst told Timely News refusing to be named for fear of his safety.