The ruling Zanu PF party is facing its gravest internal crisis in years after Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi failed to attend a key Politburo meeting on Wednesday, multiple party insiders have confirmed. The boycott – which left empty seats at the highest decision-making table – is being interpreted as a direct challenge to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s grip on the party ahead of the 2028 succession battle.
The Boycott That Signals a Deeper Rift
“This was not a mere scheduling conflict. It was a deliberate show of force,” said a Harare-based political analyst who has advised party factions in the past. “Chiwenga’s military-backed faction and Mohadi’s traditionalist wing have long chafed under Mnangagwa’s style of leadership. By staying away, they are sending a message that they will not rubber-stamp decisions that marginalise them.”
