HARARE — The beleaguered Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hit back at critics within his party, delivering a sharp rebuke seemingly aimed at mounting internal dissent and what insiders say is a dossier linked to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Speaking at a public event in Harare on Tuesday, Mnangagwa declared:
“Shame, shame, shame on all those who are denigrating our national interests and ongoing people-centred projects and programmes. We are ZANU PF, and will not be deterred. We reject the negative and harmful characterisations of our Party and country.”
The statement, though general in tone, has been widely interpreted as a direct response to the growing internal turbulence within ZANU PF, where factional manoeuvres have intensified in recent weeks. Political analysts suggest that Mnangagwa’s remarks were a thinly veiled response to reports of a dossier allegedly compiled by Chiwenga’s allies, criticising the President’s handling of national resources, appointments, and party structures.
Party insiders say the fallout has deepened since whispers emerged of renewed factional alignments ahead of the 2028 elections, with some senior members reportedly aligning themselves with either the Mnangagwa or Chiwenga camp.
“Mnangagwa’s message was clear — he’s not only defending his administration’s record but warning those within the party who are sabotaging his leadership under the guise of revolutionary loyalty,” said a Harare-based political commentator.
The President’s remarks come at a time when ZANU PF is grappling with increasing discontent over economic hardships, rising inflation, and accusations of elite corruption. Analysts note that the party’s internal power struggles risk undermining Mnangagwa’s attempts to project unity and stability both domestically and internationally.
As the ruling party approaches its next elective conference, tensions between the two liberation war comrades — Mnangagwa and Chiwenga — are expected to shape the future trajectory of Zimbabwe’s ruling elite.
For now, Mnangagwa’s defiant tone signals that he is not prepared to concede ground — either to the opposition or to rivals within his own political fortress.
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