Zimbabwe News Update
zimeye
2 min read
The four — zanu pf central committee member and businessmankudakwashe tagwirei, the party’s harare provincial chairpersongodwills masimirembwa, harare provincial affairs ministercharles tawengwa, and politburo memberomega hungwe— denounced chiwenga during a feedback meeting with party supporters in chitungwiza on tuesday. Tagwirei, a billionaire fuel and mining magnate widely regarded as mnangagwa’s chief financier and political enforcer, argued that zimbabwe’s economic recovery under mnangagwa must not be disrupted. “we have seen a dramatic turnaround in infrastructure, currency stability, and investor confidence,” tagwirei said. “to disrupt this positive momentum now, at this critical juncture, would be to jeopardise the prosperity of all zimbabweans.
Amending our constitution to allow the president to see his vision through to 2030 is not just a political matter; it is an economic imperative for our nation.” his remarks, which drew applause from mnangagwa loyalists, came amid renewed tensions between mnangagwa’s camp and chiwenga’s faction, which has long resisted any attempt to extend mnangagwa’s presidency beyond the current constitutional limit. Tagwirei’s campaign is widely seen as an attempt to further weaken chiwenga — the former army commander who led the 2017 military coup that ousted robert mugabe and installed mnangagwa. Relations between the two men reportedly soured soon after the coup as mnangagwa consolidated power and sidelined the military figures who had facilitated his rise.
Once seen as mnangagwa’s natural successor, chiwenga has since been systematically isolated within the ruling elite. Tagwirei, through his companysakunda holdings, controls strategic sectors such as fuel, agriculture, and mining, making him one of the country’s most powerful businessmen. Analysts say his growing political visibility signals a shift from behind-the-scenes influence to overt political positioning aimed at neutralising the military-aligned faction loyal to chiwenga. His recent appointment to the zanu pf central committee and increasing presence at provincial events are viewed as part of this wider political strategy.
At the same chitungwiza meeting, masimirembwa backed tagwirei’s proposal, calling it both “legal and popular.” “the constitution is a living document that exists to serve the people. When national interest demands it, we have both the right and duty to adjust it,” he said. Minister tawengwa insisted the proposed amendment would not amount to a third term, saying: source:zimeye
