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HARARE, Zimbabwe — The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) has once again been embroiled in controversy as supporters of President Emmerson Mnangagwa push hard to extend his presidency beyond 2030.
Mnangagwa came to power in a coup in 2017, overthrowing Robert Mugabe, and his current term as president is due to end in 2028. However, legal experts point out that Mnangagwa is 81 years old and cannot benefit from constitutional amendments to remove presidential term limits.
There have been reports that Mnangagwa’s supporters are planning to sabotage or delay elections to prolong his rule, a tactic reminiscent of one previously used by his government. Political analysts have pointed to similarities between Mnangagwa’s unclear stance on succession and that of Mugabe, whose reluctance to name a successor led to internal conflict and his eventual ouster in 2017.
Grace Mugabe, who suggested during her time as first lady that Mugabe could stay in power from his grave, underscored the lengths to which some within the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front would go to cling to power. Her call for Mugabe to appoint a successor underscores deep divisions within the party over leadership.
Mugabe himself refused to name a successor, claiming none of his subordinates had the political clout to unite the party against the opposition. His ouster by the military in 2017 indicated that succession issues within the ZANU-PF had not yet been resolved.
Despite his promise to retire at the end of his term, Mnangagwa’s handling of his succession has sparked speculation and internal fighting, echoing the uncertainty that surrounded Mugabe’s later years. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is seen as a potential successor, but factions loyal to Mnangagwa are reportedly working to undermine his ambitions. Mnangagwa’s supporters have intensified the conflict within the party over future leadership with slogans such as “2030 VaMnangagwa Vanenge Vachipo” (Mnangagwa will serve until 2030).
The escalation of internal disputes within the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) threatens the party’s unity and national stability. ZANU political committee member Munyarazi Machacha stressed that it is premature to discuss succession and reiterated that Mnangagwa will retire in 2028. However, despite Mnangagwa’s public denial of plans to extend his presidency, his supporters are still promoting the slogan “2030” at official events, indicating that factional fighting is still continuing.
Critics say Mnangagwa is using similar authoritarian tactics to Mugabe to consolidate power, exploiting the party structure and the state apparatus. The military’s reported opposition to Mnangagwa’s ambitions highlights divisions within the party over the direction of leadership.
Political analysts have questioned ZANU’s ability to achieve a smooth, democratic transition of power, citing entrenched factionalism and opaque political practices within the party. Eldred Masunugure observed that the reluctance of aspiring leaders within ZANU to publicly declare their intentions suggests a secretive approach to succession planning. He doubted Mnangagwa’s commitment to promoting democratic processes within the party and predicted that Mnangagwa might back his preferred successor and mobilize support within the party accordingly.
Professor Chen said he was concerned that the ZANU succession battle could hamper the chances of the younger generation taking on leadership positions within the party. He criticised the party’s historical repression of the opposition and internal dissent, and said the gerontocracy power dynamic favouring liberation war veterans would continue.
The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front faces significant challenges regarding the complex issue of leadership succession, with implications for party cohesion and Zimbabwe’s political stability and democratic future.
Source: The Standard
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