Chadzamira Warns Chiwenga’s Camp, Declares Mnangagwa Will Rule “Until Donkeys Grow Horns”

MASVINGO, Zimbabwe — Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira has issued a strong warning to individuals seeking to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership, declaring that the ZANU-PF leader will remain in power “until donkeys grow horns.”

Chadzamira made the remarks on Thursday during the burial of ZANU-PF councillor Junior Charumbira in Sikato, Masvingo, amid mounting political tensions over the party’s succession battle and calls for Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond his current constitutional timetable.

Although he did not explicitly name Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga in the quoted remarks, Chadzamira’s comments were widely interpreted as being directed at those perceived to be positioning themselves to succeed Mnangagwa.

“Mnangagwa will rule until donkeys grow horns, that is if donkeys will ever grow horns. You just wake up after being embraced by your wife and you say you want to take over power, never,” Chadzamira said, according to ZimEye.

The minister also used the Shona expression “Hakuna zuva rinobuda rimwe ririko,” reinforcing his message that no individual should assume they can independently determine when the country’s leadership changes.

Succession tensions intensify

Chadzamira’s remarks come as divisions and competing political interests within ZANU-PF increasingly draw public attention. The question of who will eventually succeed Mnangagwa has become a major point of contention within the ruling party.

Chiwenga, who played a central role in the 2017 military intervention that led to Robert Mugabe’s departure and Mnangagwa’s rise to power, is widely viewed as an important figure in the succession debate.

Recent political exchanges have intensified speculation about the relationship between the president and his deputy, particularly following discussions surrounding the ruling party’s position on Mnangagwa’s future beyond 2028.

Chadzamira emphasised that Zimbabwe has one president and one centre of power, underscoring his support for Mnangagwa’s continued leadership.

“Zimbabwe has one President and one centre of power,” he said.

The 2030 debate

The minister’s intervention comes against the backdrop of the controversial “2030 agenda,” which seeks to keep Mnangagwa in office beyond the end of his current presidential term.

The proposal has generated debate over constitutional limits, political succession and the future direction of Zimbabwe’s governance. Supporters of Mnangagwa have defended his continued leadership, while critics have raised concerns about extending presidential tenure beyond the existing constitutional framework.

Chadzamira’s remarks underline the resistance among some ruling-party figures to any perceived challenge to Mnangagwa’s authority.

The burial ceremony, intended to honour the late councillor, consequently became another platform for the wider political contest unfolding within ZANU-PF.

As succession tensions continue, statements from senior party figures are likely to keep attention focused on the balance of power between Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and their respective supporters.

Source: ZimEye, 23 October 2026.