Newly-elected Zanu PF Manicaland women’s league chairperson Dorothy Mabika has launched a unity campaign to mend divisions following her contentious victory, which exposed deep factional fault lines within the party.
Mabika, backed by Women’s League secretary Marble Chinomona, narrowly defeated rival Mercy Sacco, who enjoyed support from party heavyweight Patrick Chinamasa, by 23 votes to 16 in an election overseen by Zanu PF national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha.
Mabika was co-opted to replace suspended former provincial chairperson Happiness Nyakuedzwa.
Before Mabika’s co-option, Sacco was the acting chairlady.
The race was marred by infighting, with Mabika and Sacco’s camps clashing openly, reflecting broader factional tensions between Chinomona and Chinamasa’s allies.
Both Mabika and Sacco were conducting parallel meetings in Manicaland.
Analysts said the contest highlighted competing power bases ahead of Zanu PF’s critical succession debates.
Mabika has since embarked on a province-wide tour to consolidate her position and bridge divides, visiting provincial structures in Manicaland.
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In an interview, Mabika framed her outreach as a reconciliation mission:
"Manicaland is vast, and I’m meeting some members for the first time," she said.
"Our focus is unity, the foundation of development.
"We’re also mobilising grassroots support for Vision 2030 and women’s empowerment projects."
Observers question whether Mabika’s unity push can overcome entrenched factionalism, particularly given Sacco’s influential backers.
Chinamasa and Chinomona accused each other of imposing their preferred candidates to chair the provincial Women’s League.
In a letter addressed to the leadership dated June 6, Chinamasa claimed that Mabika was controversially co-opted as Manicaland women league chairperson.
In response, Chinomona accused Chinamasa of meddling in affairs related to women’s affairs in the party.
Sources said the dispute mirrors past Zanu PF succession battles where internal rivalries disrupted provincial cohesion.
Zanu PF is torn apart along factional lines over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s succession.
Mnangagwa has indicated that he is a constitutionalist, and would not want to have his term of office extended when it expires in 2028.
Zanu PF will hold its elective congress in 2027 to choose a new leader.
