Zanu-PF Plot to Delay 2027 Elective Congress Sparks Fresh Succession Debate

By Staff Reporter
HARARE – A growing campaign within Zanu-PF to postpone the party's scheduled 2027 elective congress is fueling renewed debate over succession and the future of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership, with party insiders claiming the move could significantly alter the race to succeed him.

According to senior party sources, discussions are underway to push for a resolution that would defer the 2027 congress, where delegates are expected to elect the party's First Secretary and President. The proposal is reportedly aimed at extending President Mnangagwa's tenure while delaying the selection of his successor.

The issue came into sharper focus during celebrations marking Constitution Amendment Act No. 3 in Epworth, where senior Zanu-PF officials and district representatives reportedly discussed aligning the party's constitution with the national constitution. Supporters of the proposal argue that such alignment would strengthen continuity in implementing the President's Vision 2030 development agenda.

Party officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said what initially appeared to be public support for the "2030" campaign has evolved into a coordinated effort involving meetings and awareness campaigns across several provinces. The campaign is expected to culminate at Zanu-PF's Annual National People's Conference in Chinhoyi later this year, where supporters hope to table the proposal as a key resolution.

"It is being presented as constitutional alignment," one provincial official said. "The message being shared with party structures is that the party constitution should complement the national constitution and provide continuity for the President's development programmes."

If adopted, the proposal would postpone the election of a new First Secretary, a position currently held by President Mnangagwa, effectively delaying the party's leadership transition ahead of future national elections.

Political observers say such a development would inevitably reshape Zanu-PF's succession dynamics. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is widely viewed as one of the leading contenders to eventually succeed Mnangagwa, and delaying the elective congress could affect the timing and nature of that transition.

Sources aligned to a faction opposed to Chiwenga's immediate rise said they are lobbying district and provincial structures to support the proposal. One insider claimed the objective is to create space for alternative leadership options to emerge within the party, although no names were mentioned.

Under the current Zanu-PF constitution, the party holds an elective congress every five years. Any decision to postpone the congress would require constitutional amendments approved through the party's internal processes.

Efforts to obtain comment from Zanu-PF national spokesperson Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

In recent weeks, senior party leaders, including Senator Charles Tawengwa, Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs Minister Charles Tavengwa, Omega Hungwe and other provincial officials, have continued to emphasize party unity and support for President Mnangagwa's development agenda during public events.

Analysts believe the debate reflects the growing tension between those advocating leadership continuity and those calling for a clear succession roadmap within the ruling party. As preparations for the Chinhoyi conference gather momentum, attention is expected to focus on whether party structures endorse the proposed resolution and what it could mean for Zanu-PF's leadership beyond 2027.