ZANU PF officially blocks Chiwenga’s 2027 takeover

ZANU PF has effectively shut the door on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga succeeding President Emmerson Mnangagwa as ruling party leader in 2027, following the adoption of resolutions postponing the party’s elective Congress by two years and endorsing Mnangagwa’s continued leadership until 2030.

The resolutions represent a major political setback for any anticipated succession bid by Chiwenga, who would ordinarily have had an opportunity to contest the party leadership at the scheduled 2027 elective Congress.

Instead, the ruling party has announced that its next Congress will be held in 2029, with Mnangagwa already endorsed to remain party president and presidential candidate.

The political implication is unmistakable: ZANU PF has removed the scheduled 2027 opportunity for Chiwenga to seek the party presidency through an elective Congress, while simultaneously endorsing Mnangagwa for continued leadership.

The decision was announced at the party’s 23rd National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi, where Secretary for Legal Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed that the party had resolved to amend its constitution to accommodate the revised electoral timetable.

“We recall that we were due to have a Congress next year but, because of the constitutional amendment that happened, we agreed that Congress will be in 2029,” Ziyambi declared.

He further confirmed that the party had already settled on who should lead it when that Congress eventually takes place.

“We also resolved that when we go to our Congress in 2029 our party President and our candidate will be His Excellency, Cde Mnangagwa,” he said.