As Zanu PF gears up for its annual conference in Bulawayo next week, internal divisions and factional wars within the party are once again coming to the fore. This time, Jabulani Nkomo, son of the late Vice-President John Landa Nkomo, has found himself sidelined after his name was removed from the accreditation list, barring him from attending the high-profile event.
Nkomo, a provincial member from Tsholotsho district, expressed his frustration over the unexpected turn of events. “My name was on the list from Tsholotsho district to our Lupane provincial office for accreditation as a provincial member elected by Tsholotsho district,” Nkomo told *NewsDay*. “Surprisingly, it disappeared along the way and was nowhere to be found. I have lodged my complaint with the relevant offices, hence I can’t comment any further.”
Insiders allege that the provincial chairperson for Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, conspired with his allies to remove Nkomo’s name at the last minute. In Nkomo’s place, Moyo’s associates, including former Senator Believe Gaule, were reportedly accredited. However, Gaule is not part of the current provincial structure, raising eyebrows within party circles.
When contacted for comment, Gaule denied any involvement in the matter and referred all questions to Moyo. For his part, Moyo, who also serves as the Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, distanced himself from the controversy. “It is not my duty to accredit delegates, therefore, I was never involved in coming up with the list of delegates,” Moyo said. “If ever there is such a case, why should the person be removed?”
Efforts to reach Zanu PF provincial administrator Bigboy Nkiwane for clarification were unsuccessful.
The roots of the discord can be traced back to May, when Jabulani Nkomo was co-opted into the provincial co-ordinating committee following the creation of a new post, Provincial Deputy Member for Local Government. During the meeting to fill the position, both Nkomo and Gaule were considered, which led to an election. Gaule eventually excused himself from the contest, allowing Nkomo to secure the position. However, there have been ongoing attempts to replace him, with some party officials insisting Gaule should take up the post instead.
This latest controversy is symptomatic of the growing tensions within Zanu PF ahead of the conference, where deeper issues are also at play. Reports from inside the party suggest that factions are divided over a proposed resolution to amend the Constitution to extend presidential term limits, potentially keeping President Emmerson Mnangagwa in power until 2030.
While provincial executive members are said to be under pressure to endorse this move, grassroots structures have expressed resistance to the idea. Mnangagwa has publicly stated on multiple occasions that he will not seek to extend his term beyond 2028, emphasizing that Zanu PF will select its next leader in 2027. Furthermore, even if the Constitution is amended, it stipulates that current officeholders cannot benefit from such changes, leaving the factional battle over Mnangagwa’s future unresolved.
