Zanu Pf is reportedly facing internal factions between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as the country heads to 2023 general elections.
Reports say the two are fighting to get control of the party in the upcoming Zanu Pf elective congress, which will be held towards the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa yesterday said Mnangagwa advised them to tackle factionalism within the ruling party structures.
“Indeed, there is factionalism in Harare province. President Mnangagwa implored us to deal with it and it will be a thing of the past soon,” he said.
In Masvingo, president of the Chiefs Council Fortune Charumbira acknowledged that the province was riddled with factionalism which was threatening to tear apart the ruling party.
“Masvingo province, let me warn you, please unite, unite. The province fought hard for us to get into the new dispensation. It was the leading province until former First Lady Grace Mugabe said Masvingo you are causing trouble by supporting Mnangagwa. We no longer want you in Zanu PF,” Charumbira said during burial of provincial hero Sylvester Maunganidze in Masvingo at the weekend.
In Matabeleland North, a faction reportedly linked to Zanu PF secretary, Obert Mpofu is allegedly losing its grip on the ruling party’s structures during the ongoing internal elections ahead of the decisive congress later this year. Reports say Mpofu’s faction is aligned to Chiwenga.
Zanu PF factionalism comes at a time when Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is confident the opposition party will win next year’s general elections.
During the March 26 by-elections, Zanu PF lost most of the constituencies to the opposition led by Chamisa.