ZANU PF TEARING ITSELF APART AS TAGWIREI FIGHT EXPOSES DEEP CRACKS

Zanu PF is in trouble again, and this time the fight is not with the opposition. The fight is happening inside the party, and it is getting worse each day. The ruling party is now divided because of how new people are added into powerful positions. This fight began after businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei was pushed into the Central Committee without following the correct rules. Many people in the party are now angry, confused, and scared of what comes next.

The process of adding someone into a party structure is called co-option. It means the people already in the position choose someone new, sometimes by voting or just by agreeing. But in Tagwirei’s case, many say the rules were ignored. This fight has grown so big that Zanu PF is now writing a new document to explain how co-option must work. This alone shows how broken things have become.

The circular is being written by the national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha and the party’s secretary-general Obert Mpofu. These are important men in Zanu PF, but even they are failing to calm the situation. Some top leaders support Tagwirei. Others strongly reject him. This fight is happening at the same time the party is already divided because of the struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga over who will take over next.

Last week Wednesday, the politburo met. This is the most powerful group in the party. When Machacha gave a report saying Tagwirei should be co-opted, no one said “no”. It looked like they all agreed. The next day, Tagwirei went to the Central Committee meeting like he was now a real member. But Chiwenga kicked him out in front of everyone. This moment showed the whole country that the war inside Zanu PF is real and dangerous.

Many people believe Tagwirei wants a top position or even wants to replace Mnangagwa. He keeps saying that is not true, but his money, power, and links make people suspicious. Harare and Masvingo provinces both asked for Tagwirei to be added to the Central Committee. They said they want him because he has money and business success. But others say he has no political experience and does not deserve the seat at all.

Harare Province managed to push Tagwirei into the structure. But that victory did not last long. Chiwenga and his supporters stopped the process fast. This has made the rules of co-option even more confusing than before. Now the party is trying to fix the mess by rewriting the rules.

Before 2022, the Zanu PF constitution said if a position became empty, someone could be co-opted until the next election. But if too many people left, then new elections had to happen. After 2022, the new rules say a person must be co-opted within three months. If two people want the same seat, then they must vote and the one who gets more votes wins. But if many people from one group leave, then the whole group must be dissolved and new elections must be done.

This drama is not ending soon. The party is confused, divided, and losing control of itself. Tagwirei’s case has shown how weak and broken Zanu PF has become. The party is focused on power and money instead of fixing the country.

Many Zimbabweans are watching this fight and shaking their heads. The same leaders who promised to improve the country are now busy fighting each other over positions. The people continue to suffer while they focus only on power.

Attempts to get answers from Machacha and Mpofu did not work. They did not respond. But one thing is clear. The ruling party is no longer ruling in peace. The co-option drama is just one small part of a much bigger problem. Zanu PF is falling apart, and the cracks are now too big for them to hide.