ZANU PF WAR VETERANS REJECT MNANGAGWA ALLIES IN SHOCKING POWER SHIFT

In a stunning turn of events that has shaken the core of Zanu PF’s internal politics, two of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s most loyal allies, Christopher Mutsvangwa and Victor Matemadanda, have been unceremoniously dumped by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. This unexpected political earthquake struck during the long-overdue elective congress held in Gweru, where war veterans signaled a dramatic shift in allegiance—away from Mnangagwa’s camp and closer to that of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

Mutsvangwa, once a towering figure in both Zanu PF and government circles, was humiliated with a crushing defeat. He secured only 11 votes, while Cephas Ncube from Bulawayo walked away with a commanding 294 votes. This was not just a defeat—it was a political excommunication. Held at the Zanu PF Convention Centre in Mnangagwa’s own stronghold in the Midlands province, the congress exposed just how much ground Mnangagwa’s inner circle has lost within the powerful war veterans’ bloc.

Matemadanda fared no better. The former political commissar, who now serves as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Mozambique, could only muster a third-place finish with 75 votes, behind Albert Ncube of Matabeleland North, who polled 90. The vote was not just about leadership; it was a statement. The veterans were sending a clear message: the Mnangagwa era is fading, and new allegiances are forming.

The new executive reads like a restructuring manual for Zanu PF’s future. Cephas Ncube is now chairperson, joined by Shorai Nyamangondo as vice chairperson. Other appointments include Joel Murerengwa (Secretary-General), Thomas Manyima (Legal Affairs), Vincent Chinone (Transport), Section Ncube (Finance), Sanik Nguni (Security), Nyembesi Togara (Women Affairs), and Samuel Parirenyatwa (Political Commissar). Notably, three members of the new executive carry the surname Ncube—a name heavily associated with Chiwenga’s faction, highlighting the growing influence of the Vice President.

This development marks a brutal fall from grace for Mutsvangwa, who once sat at the pinnacle of Mnangagwa’s rise to power. He was instrumental in Mnangagwa’s 2017 coup-backed ascent and was rewarded with the Ministry of War Veterans. But he has since been purged—first stripped of his advisory role in 2018, and then axed entirely from Cabinet in February 2025. His political stock, once high, has now hit rock bottom.

Matemadanda’s political relevance has also eroded. Once a key operator in Mnangagwa’s factional battles, his influence has waned considerably. His defeat at the congress is not just personal—it is another public loss for Mnangagwa’s circle, and a win for Chiwenga’s growing grip on the party.

This reshuffling could not come at a more critical time. Zanu PF’s annual conference, scheduled for October 22 in Bulawayo, is just around the corner. The timing of this shakeup grants Chiwenga a serious upper hand. War veterans, historically a crucial arm of Zanu PF’s political machinery, are now seemingly aligned with his camp. This power base may prove vital in the ongoing battle over Zanu PF’s future leadership.

The wider context cannot be ignored. There is rising suspicion that Mnangagwa is seeking to cling to power beyond his constitutional term limit in 2028, with whispers of a plan to extend his rule until 2030. Though he denies it, the move has deepened divisions within the party, pitting him directly against Chiwenga’s camp. The war veterans’ vote seems to make clear where the momentum is shifting.

Mnangagwa’s reign has been a profound disappointment for many. The post-Mugabe era has brought no real transformation. Corruption, repression, and economic collapse remain the order of the day. With war veterans now turning their backs on him, the ground beneath Mnangagwa’s feet is beginning to crack. Change is no longer a whisper in the corridors—it’s a thunderclap in the heart of Zanu PF.