Unity in the Tent, Tension in the Presidium?: Muchinguri-Kashiri’s Rallying Cry Amid Perceived ZANU PF’s Internal Fractures

By Dr MASIMBA MAVAZA

As the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference began with vibrant colors and formalities, National Chairperson and Minister of Defence Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri gave a speech that was both celebratory and cautionary.

She was indeed the wife of a pastor as her speech was spiritual and soul searching.

Behind the impressive displays and smooth planning, her words conveyed a more profound message: a call for unity, self-reflection, and ideological renewal during a time when the party grapples with significant internal conflicts which are projected in the social media.

“Let us search our souls, confess any mistakes. Be remorseful, be born again, renew and strengthen our loyalty to the large mass party and its founding values,” she urged delegates.

Muchinguri-Kashiri praised the organisation of the conference, describing ZANU PF as “experienced, innovative, and ready for modernisation.

”However, her focus on discipline, loyalty, and ideological clarity pointed to deeper worries—issues that have been brewing beneath the surface of party unity.

The Cracks Beneath the Surface

The conference takes place amid rising tensions between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

At the centre of the conflict is the controversial “ED2030” agenda, a proposal to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit by delaying the 2028 elections.

While President Mnangagwa’s supporters frame this move as necessary to fulfill his development vision, critics within the party view it as a power grab that threatens democratic principles.

In contrast, Vice President Chiwenga has reportedly emerged as a strong opponent of this plan.

In recent Politburo meetings, Chiwenga presented a corruption report implicating various businessmen closely connected to Mnangagwa, including figures like Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Wicknell Chivayo.

The report, which calls for arrests and accountability, has faced fierce opposition.Party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa accused Chiwenga of “turning the presidium into a kangaroo court,” revealing the depth of factional distrust.

Muchinguri-Kashiri’s Balancing Act

In this context, Muchinguri-Kashiri’s speech can be seen as a strategic move—an effort to reconnect the party with its founding values and ease factional tensions through calls for unity and ideological discipline.

Her references to the party’s traditions and spiritual renewal (“Be born again… We are friends to all and enemies to none”) indicate a desire to rise above tribal, regional, and philosophical divisions.

She also described the conference as a “serious business forum,” linking it to the shift from National Development Strategy 1 to Strategy 2 and the larger goal of achieving Vision 2030 through economic empowerment and value addition.

“As delegates, we are leaders representing constituencies who expect complete feedback.

Since the advent of the Second Republic, conferences have evolved into platforms for strategic exchange,” she noted

.Between Loyalty and ReformMuchinguri-Kashiri’s message resonates with a party at a crossroads.

Her call for introspection and recommitment may serve as a stabilizing force, but it also underscores the urgency of confronting internal contradictions.

As ZANU PF navigates succession politics, corruption allegations, and constitutional debates, the question remains: can unity be more than a decorative theme?

The 22nd National People’s Conference is now more of a landmark toward true legacy that seeks to reconcile its internal fractures with the values it claims to uphold for a common cause.