Mnangagwa hits out at cliques and boycotts ahead of conference

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken a swipe at Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga in what is seen as a sign of a widening rift over succession.

Chiwenga is reportedly seeking to stop Mnangagwa from remaining in office beyond his two terms.

Mnangagwa is said to oppose Chiwenga succeeding him and is understood to prefer a close ally, such as Kudakwashe Tagwirei or former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, retired General Philip Valerio Sibanda.

Addressing a ZANU PF Central Committee meeting at the party headquarters in Harare on Wednesday 14 October, Mnangagwa warned: “Hatidi mweya waRigioni muMusangano wedu” – Shona for “we don’t want the devil’s spirit in our party”.

In the Bible, Legion – Rigioni in Shona – refers to a multitude of demons possessing a man.

Mnangagwa told the meeting: “The party and national interest remain central and at the core of our discussions. I urge us to distinguish between principled contributions intended to improve the party and reject conduct that seeks to divide or derail the conference agenda. Preferences of cliques and narrow inclinations, among other retrogressive acts, have no place in our party.”

His remarks came a day after he criticised his deputy at a Politburo session on Tuesday for boycotting the President’s Fundraising Dinner Ball on Saturday evening.

ZANU PF raised about US$10 million for its annual conference at the dinner, but Chiwenga was the only member of the top six, the party’s praesidium, to stay away.

Chiwenga had also boycotted the funeral of the late tycoon Wicknell Chivayo last week and the swearing-in of Tagwirei on Monday as the new Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister.

As then ZDF Commander, Chiwenga played a key role in elevating Mnangagwa to the presidency after the November 2017 coup that ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe.

Political analysts say Chiwenga now feels entitled to succeed Mnangagwa, a move that is reportedly being resisted by his rivals.

The Politburo and Central Committee meetings are being held ahead of the party’s 23rd Annual National People’s Conference, which officially opens in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province, on Friday.

More: The NewsHawks