The silent purge: Why top Zanu PF and police officials are suddenly ‘retiring’ before 2030′
HARARE — The corridors of power at the ZANU-PF headquarters in Harare are usually alive with the hum of political machinations, but lately, a different kind of sound has taken over: the quiet, methodical clicking of a door being locked from the inside. As the ruling party intensifies its push for a controversial constitutional amendment to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term to 2030, a “Silent Purge” is unfolding within the upper echelons of the revolutionary movement. What the party portrays as “stability” and “routine reassignments” is, upon closer inspection, a ruthless consolidation of power designed to clear the path for a lifelong presidency.
The recent acceptance of controversial businessman Paul Tungwarara into the ZANU-PF Central Committee is merely the tip of a much larger iceberg. Tungwarara’s co-option, which followed months of stalling and internal friction in Manicaland Province, was finally rubber-stamped by the Politburo in late February 2026.
While the party’s spokesperson, Christopher Mutsvangwa, hailed the move as an “injection of new blood,” the reality is far more calculated. Tungwarara, a special advisor to the President, joins a growing list of loyalists being fast-tracked into the party’s most powerful body between congresses, effectively replacing the old guard whose commitment to the “2030” project is deemed insufficient.
“I am glad to announce that Cde Tungwarara has now been accepted as the member of the Central Committee of ZANU-PF. I want to congratulate him,” Mutsvangwa stated following a Politburo session. He further justified the inclusion of such figures by adding, “This is an injection of new blood into the party, young business people who have fresh ideas about how to generate wealth for the country… Their inclusion into ZANU-PF leadership will ensure that we get fresh ideas as to how we can attune the party to the demands of a modern fourth industrial revolution country”.
However, for every “new blood” injected, an “old guard” veteran is being quietly bled out. Our investigation has tracked the movements of several former heavyweights who have effectively vanished from the public eye or been moved to peripheral roles. Most notable is the sidelining of Obert Mpofu, the long-time Secretary-General of ZANU-PF. Once considered a kingmaker and a stalwart of the party, Mpofu was recently reassigned to the relatively obscure post of Secretary for ICT. Sources within the party suggest that his removal from the powerful SG position was a direct consequence of his perceived ties to “successionist” elements who harbour ambitions beyond the Mnangagwa era.
Similarly, Jacob Mudenda, the veteran Speaker of Parliament, has found his position increasingly precarious. Reports suggest that Mudenda may soon be forced to relinquish his role as the party seeks to install a more “energetic” loyalist who will oversee the legislative hurdles required for the 2030 extension. These aren’t just political reshufflings; they are the deliberate removal of anyone who might offer even a whisper of dissent when the time comes to amend the constitution.
Official Name
Former Position
Current Status / New Role
Reason for Shift (Internal Source)
Obert Mpofu
Secretary-General
Secretary for ICT
Perceived “successionist” sympathies
Jacob Mudenda
Speaker of Parliament
Under Pressure / Reassignment
Need for “2030” legislative enforcer
Dorothy Mabika
Central Committee Member
Resigned / Replaced
Cleared path for Tungwarara
Senior ZRP Officials
Various High-Level Posts
Forcibly Retired
Loyalty concerns within security sector
Behind the scenes, the mechanics of this purge are as simple as they are terrifying. Loyalty tests are being conducted with clinical precision within the party’s provincial structures. The “2030” slogan has become a mandatory liturgical chant; those who fail to recite it with enough enthusiasm or who hesitate to endorse the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 find themselves facing sudden, devastating consequences. These range from “security concerns” that necessitate their immediate removal for their own “protection” to sudden, aggressive corruption audits.
The irony of these audits is not lost on party insiders. In a system built on patronage, corruption is often the glue that holds the structure together. However, when a cadre’s loyalty is questioned, that same glue is used to set them ablaze. By weaponising the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) or internal disciplinary committees, the leadership can remove rivals while maintaining a public veneer of “cleaning up the party.” As one source within the Midlands provincial structure whispered, “You don’t have to be guilty to be purged; you just have to be quiet when you should be shouting ‘2030’”.
This atmosphere of intimidation is carefully managed to ensure that the upcoming party congress is less of a democratic meeting and more of a coronation. The goal is to present a united front to the world, a facade of “unwavering support” for the President’s continued rule. But beneath the surface, the “stability” ZANU-PF boasts of is a fragile peace, maintained by the constant threat of political or professional execution.
The rise of what is being called “Generation 2030” is perhaps the most telling sign of this shift. This group of younger, fiercely loyal cadres is being groomed to replace the veterans of the liberation struggle. Unlike the old guard, who may still hold onto notions of institutional memory or traditional party hierarchy, Generation 2030 owes its entire political existence to the current presidency. They are the “vanguard” of the new era, tasked with defending the 2030 project at all costs.
“The youths are the vanguard of the party ZANU-PF. The first to defend its ideals, the boldest to carry its vision, and the strongest force,” a recent Youth League statement declared. In practice, this means being the “boots on the ground” for the loyalty tests, monitoring social media activity of senior officials, and ensuring that the provincial coordinating committees remain in lockstep with the national leadership.
As the 2030 term extension gains momentum, the “Silent Purge” has also reached the security sector. In January 2026, the government forcibly retired 11 senior Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officials and is reportedly reassigning dozens more in March. This strategic move, which has gone largely unexplained in official circles, is a clear attempt to ensure that the security apparatus is fully aligned with the President’s long-term vision. The removal of these high-ranking officers, many of whom had decades of experience, has created a “power vacuum” that is quickly being filled by loyalists.
While official statements attributed his departure to reaching retirement age, the timing, amidst the broader political manoeuvres surrounding the 2030 term extension, has raised eyebrows amongst observers.
His removal, alongside the forced retirement of 11 other senior ZRP officials in January 2026 and the reassignment of dozens more in March, underscores a deliberate effort to ensure unwavering loyalty within the security forces as the party consolidates power for its long-term objectives. This strategic overhaul within the police force is seen as critical to neutralising any potential dissent or resistance to the proposed constitutional changes, thereby aligning the entire state machinery with the President’s vision for an extended tenure.
The true nature of this “stability” is perhaps best seen in the way the party handles dissent. Those who are not “retiring” or “reassigning” are often finding themselves on the wrong side of a corruption audit. The message is clear: loyalty is the only currency that matters in the lead-up to 2030. The upcoming party congress, far from being a democratic meeting, will be a carefully choreographed coronation. The “Generation 2030” youth cadres, who are being fast-tracked into positions of power, will be the ones to ensure that the “2030” slogan is chanted with the required enthusiasm.
The complex web of patronage and fear that keeps the party in line is a carefully managed atmosphere of intimidation. The “stability” that ZANU-PF boasts of is, in reality, a fragile peace maintained by the constant threat of political or professional execution. As the country moves closer to 2030, the “Silent Purge” will only intensify, clearing the path for a lifelong presidency and leaving little room for those who might harbour “successionist” ambitions.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, which proposes extending presidential terms from five to seven years, is the legal framework for this consolidation of power. If passed, it would allow President Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030, effectively bypassing the current constitutional limits. The “Silent Purge” is the political framework that ensures the bill’s passage. By removing any potential obstacles within the party, the leadership is creating a clear path for the amendment to be approved by Parliament and, eventually, by the people in a carefully managed referendum.
In the end, the “Silent Purge” is not just about political reshuffling; it’s about the future of Zimbabwe. The consolidation of power and the removal of dissent are signs of a party that is increasingly inward-looking and focused on its own survival. The “Generation 2030” loyalists, who are being groomed to take over from the veterans, will be the ones to lead the country into this new era. But what kind of country will it be? One where “stability” is synonymous with intimidation, and where the “Silent Purge” is the only way to ensure a lifelong presidency.
The upcoming party congress will be a turning point for ZANU-PF. It will be the moment when the “Silent Purge” is complete, and the path to 2030 is fully cleared. The world will be watching to see if the party can maintain its facade of unity, or if the internal tensions will finally boil over. But for now, the clicking of the door being locked from the inside continues, and the “Silent Purge” goes on, quiet and methodical, as the ruling party prepares for its coronation.
Key Event / Incident
Date
Description
Impact on “Silent Purge”
Tungwarara’s Co-option
February 2026
Approved by Politburo after months of stalling
Symbolic entry of “new blood” loyalists
ZRP Senior Retirements
January 2026
11 senior officials forcibly retired
Alignment of security sector with 2030 project
Constitutional Bill No. 3
Ongoing
Proposal to extend terms from 5 to 7 years
Legal framework for Mnangagwa’s 2030 stay
Obert Mpofu Sidelining
September 2025
Removed as SG, moved to ICT role
Removal of potential “successionist” influence
21st People’s Conference
Late 2024
Resolutions passed to support 2030 extension
Formal party endorsement of term extension
As the sun sets over Harare, the shadow of 2030 looms large. The “Silent Purge” has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of Zimbabwean politics, replacing a revolutionary party with a machine built for the preservation of a single man’s power. The veterans who once led the struggle for independence now find themselves cast aside, replaced by a generation whose only ideology is loyalty. The path to the coronation is paved with the careers of those who dared to hesitate, and the silence that follows is the only peace ZANU-PF can now afford.
