HARARE 鈥 ZANU PF Succession Sparks Internal Warfare as Tagwirei Pressures Mnangagwa to Sack VP Chiwenga, Eliminate Sanyatwe
Zimbabwe鈥檚 ruling ZANU PF is embroiled in a fierce succession battle, with sources revealing mounting tension between President Emmerson Mnangagwa鈥檚 inner circle and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga鈥檚 camp. Business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, long considered a shadow powerbroker within the ruling elite, has emerged as a central figure in a dramatic and escalating standoff.
In recent days, Tagwirei had been confidently advancing a 鈥淰ision 2050鈥 agenda, which insiders say was an implicit signal of his ambitions to influence or even control the post-Mnangagwa political landscape. However, those ambitions were thrown into disarray following a fiery speech by Vice President Chiwenga in Victoria Falls earlier this week, in which he took aim at 鈥渦nscrupulous so-called businesspeople operating from briefcases with no traceable capital or legitimate enterprise.鈥
Although the statement did not name individuals, political analysts and party insiders were quick to interpret it as a thinly veiled attack on businessmen like Wicknell Chivhayo and, more significantly, Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
鈥淐hiwenga鈥檚 remarks were not just casual. They were strategic,鈥 said a ZANU PF politburo member speaking on condition of anonymity. 鈥淭hey were a warning shot, particularly to those within the system who have accumulated power through dubious deals.鈥
Following the VP鈥檚 comments, sources claim panic spread through Tagwirei鈥檚 camp. One high-level insider alleged that Tagwirei made an unannounced visit to State House that same night, pressuring President Mnangagwa to take drastic action: dismiss Chiwenga and eliminate General Anselem Sanyatwe, a former commander of the Presidential Guard and current ambassador to Tanzania, whom Tagwirei reportedly sees as a key strategist backing the VP.
Efforts to deflect the backlash reportedly included a campaign to spin Chiwenga鈥檚 comments as being aimed not at businessmen like Tagwirei or Chivhayo, but at Mnangagwa himself. That narrative has failed to take root, insiders say.
Multiple sources also allege that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was drawn into the fray. She is said to have backed Tagwirei鈥檚 bid to sideline Chiwenga and allegedly sought to use spiritual means to neutralise the Vice President鈥檚 growing influence.
A senior government official, who refused to be named, claimed that last year a CIO operative named Innocent Garise and a family contact known only as Tafadzwa were tasked by the First Family to procure ritual garments intended to pacify Chiwenga. Another reported ritual was allegedly directed at Chiwenga鈥檚 wife in a bid to sever her ties with former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
鈥淭he First Lady was furious that despite repeated spiritual interventions, Chiwenga remains unshaken and increasingly vocal against corruption,鈥 the source said.
According to multiple accounts, Tagwirei and Auxillia have now agreed that General Sanyatwe must be placed under close surveillance, with efforts allegedly underway to bug his offices, vehicles, and even wire his aides.
Sources also claim that Tagwirei warned Mnangagwa that removing Chiwenga without neutralising Sanyatwe would be politically suicidal, fearing that the general could mobilise the military in another coup-style manoeuvre.
鈥淭agwirei told the President that Chiwenga has a 90-day clean-up plan,鈥 another insider revealed. 鈥淗e claimed that General Phillip Valerio Sibanda and General David Sigauke had knowledge of this plan, which involves prosecuting corrupt elites鈥攚hat Tagwirei refers to as the 鈥榋vigananda鈥.鈥
In response to the threat, Tagwirei is allegedly rushing to entrench himself further within state institutions. Reports suggest he has proposed involving the military in major infrastructure tenders鈥攕pecifically the $500 million Harare鈥揅hirundu road and the $435 million Bulawayo鈥揤ictoria Falls highway鈥攙ia the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI).
鈥淭agwirei wants to compromise the military by involving them in deals that bring them personal gain,鈥 said a government procurement analyst. 鈥淗e reportedly offered over 200 houses in Harare North to senior military officials to buy their loyalty and coup-proof the President.鈥
Political observers view these developments as indicative of a deepening crisis within ZANU PF, one that could have destabilising implications for national governance and party cohesion ahead of the 2028 elections.
鈥淚t鈥檚 no longer just about succession,鈥 said Dr. Nhamo Mudzuri, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a dangerous convergence of political paranoia, unchecked ambition, and the militarisation of business interests.鈥
Neither the Office of the President nor Tagwirei鈥檚 representatives could be reached for comment by the time of publication.
With the stakes rising and alliances shifting, Zimbabwe鈥檚 political future appears increasingly uncertain鈥攕haped not only by the ballot box, but by backroom manoeuvres and palace intrigue.