Zanu-PF Chairman's "No Elections in 2028" remark f...

Zanu-PF Chairman's "No Elections in 2028" remark fuels succession speculation

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Mashonaland East provincial chairman, Daniel Garwe, has ignited a political firestorm by telling party structures that there will be “no elections in 2028.” These remarks appear to confirm an ambitious push by allies of Mnangagwa to extend his second and final term by two years, a move that would require a constitutional amendment.

Addressing a Zanu-PF district coordinating committee on August 11, Garwe said Vision 2030—Mnangagwa’s economic blueprint—was “unstoppable” and “no-one born of a woman” could halt it.

“There is no election. DCC, do you hear? There are no elections. We’re going to 2030 building the country, whether they like it or not, shame or no shame, we’re unstoppable,” Garwe said. These comments are seen as a direct jab at Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely considered the leading contender to succeed Mnangagwa. Garwe further mocked unnamed rivals, claiming one "plucked a live black chicken" in a bid to take power, adding: “The one ruling is Mnangagwa… Don’t kill chickens in vain.”

Extending Mnangagwa’s term beyond the constitutional limit will require amendments to the country’s supreme law—a move expected to draw fierce resistance from the opposition and from some within Zanu-PF.

Despite Garwe's public comments, party insiders told Zim Now that Mnangagwa has privately maintained he will step down when his term ends in 2028. However, sources also revealed that his allies are working on a succession plan to block Chiwenga’s ascendancy. The scheme reportedly involves elevating sanctioned business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei to the party presidency at a Zanu-PF congress in 2027. Under this plan, Mnangagwa would resign on schedule, allowing Tagwirei—who would by then have been appointed Vice President—to finish the extended presidential term through to 2030.

If successful, this plot would mark the first time in Zimbabwe’s history that a business figure, rather than a career politician or military leader, takes the country’s top job.