WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe unpacks the revelations by NewsHawks Newspapers on the status of and the circumstances under which Mnangagwa offered to step down last week in the ZANU-PF politburo meeting.

Here’s a summary of the key points:

    • Investigation into Mnangagwa: Gambakwe states that allegations against Mnangagwa are still under investigation by “the top five of ZANU-PF” [01:36].
    • Politburo Meetings: There were two meetings regarding these issues: a pre-politburo meeting of the top five and a full politburo meeting [02:03].
    • Mnangagwa’s Stance: Mnangagwa reportedly did not respond to a dossier presented in the pre-politburo meeting [02:28]. At the politburo meeting, he stated he would step down if anyone believed he wasn’t doing a good job, but no one raised their hand [03:05].
    • Report Discussion: Chiwenga was asked to submit the report to the politburo. Chinamasa and Matuke were among those who spoke against the report, stating that what Chiwenga was discussing was “nothing new” [03:38]. They accused Chiwenga of behaving like Geza.
    • Mpofu’s Demotion: Mpofu was reportedly fired for not concluding that the allegations had no substance and instead referring the issue back to the top five of ZANU-PF [05:01]. He also kept minutes of the discussion, which led to him being “sacrificed” [05:45].
    • Current Investigations:
      • The shareholding of Sakunda: Chaena’s dossier alleged that ZANU-PF owns 45% of Sakunda, with the shareholding managed by Mnangagwa and the certificate kept by CBZ nominees [06:11]. This is currently under investigation.
      • Corruption allegations against Scottara and the Delish: Chaena accused these individuals of corruption and working with Mnangagwa, who he claims is enabling them [07:07]. These allegations are also under investigation.
    • Mnangagwa’s Offer: A minute in the ZANU-PF politburo meeting minutes reportedly states that Mnangagwa said he would resign if he was not managing effectively [08:19]. If the investigations find these individuals guilty, or if it’s found that ZANU-PF owns 45% of Sakunda and Mnangagwa has been mismanaging assets for corrupt purposes, then this offer would come into play [08:54].

Timeline of Events

Wednesday, September 17, 2025:
A pre-politburo briefing was held at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare, attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice-Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, and Secretary-General Obert Mpofu. During the session, Chiwenga presented a corruption dossier dubbed “ZviganandaGate” to the presidium, demanding urgent action.

Mnangagwa left the briefing abruptly and proceeded to the politburo meeting. There, he delivered a keynote address focusing on the corruption allegations from Chiwenga’s dossier before requesting Chiwenga to elaborate. Chiwenga then called for the immediate arrest of those implicated.

Several politburo members, including Lovemore Matuke, Eliphas Mashaba, Frederick Shava, and Patrick Chinamasa, intervened with responses to the report. Both Mpofu and Mohadi proposed sending the matter back to the presidium, a motion approved by the politburo.

Thursday, September 18, 2025:
Mnangagwa publicly denounced corruption at a Central Committee meeting.

Monday, September 22, 2025:
Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa held a press conference where he fiercely attacked Chiwenga while defending Kudakwashe Tagwirei and other businessmen implicated in the dossier.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025:
In a party reshuffle, Obert Mpofu was removed as secretary-general and replaced by Jacob Mudenda. Mpofu was demoted to secretary for ICT. Ziyambi Ziyambi took over as legal affairs chief from Patrick Chinamasa, who was appointed treasurer-general, replacing Mudenda.

October 13-18, 2025 (Upcoming):
The party’s annual conference is scheduled in Mutare, where tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are expected to intensify.

Accusations

Corruption:
Chiwenga accused a circle of “cash-rich” businessmen and tenderpreneurs close to Mnangagwa—referred to as “Zvigananda”—of large-scale corruption and plundering public resources. Named figures include Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Wicknell Chivayo, Pedzisayi “Scott” Sakupwanya, and Tempted Paul Tungwarara.

The “ZviganandaGate” dossier alleges that Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings is a joint venture between Tagwirei (55% ownership) and Zanu PF (45%), with Mnangagwa serving as one of the Zanu PF trustees via CBZ Nominees. Despite earning US$3.2 billion from state contracts, the party reportedly received only “peanuts,” highlighting unfair profit-sharing.

The dossier references a previous investigation under former president Robert Mugabe in 2004, which linked Mnangagwa, then secretary for treasury, to the mismanagement and destruction of Zanu PF-linked companies. Chiwenga accused Tagwirei and associates of stealing from the party and contributing to economic decline.

Succession and Political Power:
Chiwenga claims Tagwirei and related business figures are financing a “2030 campaign” to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency beyond the end of his constitutional second term in 2028. He alleges Mnangagwa is secretly backing this campaign despite public denials and called him not a true “constitutionalist.”

Chiwenga condemned the co-option of key figures like Tagwirei into the Central Committee, labelling the process “divisive” and improperly conducted. His opponents, including Mnangagwa ally Lovemore Matuke, accused Chiwenga of stoking a “raging power struggle” and orchestrating attacks on the president reminiscent of the “Geza-style” factionalism.

The article frames the unfolding events as a “do or die” battle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga locked in mortal combat, with the recent politburo reshuffle seen as a strategic move by Mnangagwa to curb Chiwenga’s rising presidential ambitions.

Significance of the Accusations

  • Public Exposure of Deep Power Struggle: The conflict between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga is revealed as a longstanding, intensifying power struggle that has now erupted into public view, exposing factional divisions at the highest level within Zanu PF.

  • Allegations of State Capture: The dossier’s central claim of a secret financial relationship between Zanu PF and Sakunda Holdings points to systemic state capture, where private businesses operate as extensions of the ruling party, undermining transparency and fairness.

  • Corruption Linked to Succession Politics: Chiwenga’s accusations weaponize corruption allegations to undermine the 2030 succession campaign funded by business allies of Mnangagwa, turning corruption claims into a political strategy to discredit opponents.

  • Contrasting Narratives: Chiwenga is cast as an anti-corruption crusader aiming to protect party integrity, while Mnangagwa’s faction, including spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa, defends implicated businessmen as legitimate actors, highlighting a major shift from party unity to overt public rivalry.

  • Politburo Meeting as a Battlefield: The described politburo meeting resembled a political battleground, revealing entrenched factional splits and fierce combat between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. Intervention by other members underscores the volatile nature of party governance currently.

  • Historical Warning: Chiwenga’s reference to the 1974 Nhari Rebellion signifies the severe consequences internal party divisions could provoke, warning that the current power struggle might escalate beyond political maneuvering.

Mnangagwa’s Resignation Offer

During the politburo meeting, Mnangagwa, visibly agitated, stated that if anyone in the politburo believed he was failing to run the country, he was willing to resign. This was a political challenge rather than a formal resignation offer. No politburo members responded, allowing Mnangagwa to reaffirm his authority and continue his leadership.

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