Vice-President Joice Mujuru has strengthened her grip on Zanu-PF after members aligned to her faction controversially won elections in Midlands, considered to be her rival Emmerson Mnangagwa's strongholds.
Although elections in eight provinces: Harare, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, are yet to take place, Mujuru's win in the two provinces placed her firmly on course to dominate the majority of provincial structures, putting her in the lead to succeed President Robert Mugabe when he leaves office.
Zanu-PF will hold its elective congress in December next year and the provincial executives who are being elected will play a crucial role in nominating candidates for the party president, two vice-presidents, national chairperson and secretary for administration, among other positions.
The Mujuru faction already dominates the Zanu-PF presidium, which comprises Mugabe, Mujuru and her key allies – national chairperson Simon Khaya Moyo and secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa.
It also dominates the Zanu-PF politburo, the party's highest decision-making body outside of congress, as well as Zimbabwe's Cabinet. Both the Cabinet and politburo are influential in shaping and directing the party and country.
The Mujuru faction is expected to win control of all the Mashonaland provinces, which are her traditional strongholds, where she and Zanu-PF political commissar Webster Shamu are expected to use their influence to the group's advantage.
Tougher fight expected
Mashonaland Central is Mujuru's home province and her late husband, Solomon Mujuru, was from Mashonaland East, where he commanded respect from the party's leadership. Shamu is from Mashonaland West.
The faction is also tipped to win in Khaya Moyo's home province of Matabeleland South, although a tougher fight is expected in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces, where Mnangagwa's ally, Obert Mpofu, is influential in party structures.
"We also stand a chance of winning in Masvingo, which has traditionally backed Mnangagwa, so things are looking really good. Mnangagwa's loss in his home province of Midlands has really driven the point home of who is on top in Zanu-PF," said a Mujuru ally, who requested anonymity.
"The win in Manicaland was also important because of the public fights that occurred between Mutasa on one side and the tag team of Patrick Chinamasa and Oppah Muchinguri, who are in the Mnangagwa camp. Our camp won – confirming that Mutasa is still the most influential person in the province.
"We dominate the presidium and the politburo, and these people are influential in their home areas and will prove to be the difference. This is the reason why most of our senior members have been in their home provinces lately. It's all about strategising and giving direction to those who will vote."
In Midlands, the incumbent, Jason Machaya, who switched to the Mujuru faction after working for many years with Mnangagwa, won by a slight margin after garnering 13 880 votes, while former vice-chairman Larry Mavima managed 13 200.
Mutsvangwa refuses to accept results, withdraws
In Manicaland the country's ambassador to Cuba, John Mvundura, who was hand-picked by the Zanu-PF politburo to assume the chairmanship after the suspension of former chair Mike Madiro in the run-up to the general elections, beat Monica Mutsvangwa by 18 445 votes to 7 170.
The Manicaland elections were, ironically, overseen by Mnangagwa, who also announced the results.
Mutsvangwa is, however, refusing to accept the results and has sent a petition to Mnangagwa.
She told the Mail & Guardian that she had withdrawn from the poll after observing widespread irregularities and hopes her grievances will be considered.
"I did what I could do as a loyal party cadre. It's now up to them as the party leadership to decide what to do with the irregularities I observed. There were too many irregularities and I have highlighted them in a report to the team leader [Mnangagwa]. The irregularities include the late arrival and, in some cases, the nonexistence of ballot papers," she said.
"In fact, I withdrew from the election after observing the irregularities."
Seeking nullification of Shurungwi North election results
Mavima said he had written to Shamu and politburo member Olivia Muchena, who oversaw the election, seeking nullification of the results in Shurugwi North constituency, which, he says, were rigged to help Machaya to win the chair's post.
"I have received information that elections did not take place in 11 districts. I have attached affidavits from district chairpersons from the affected districts in my petition to the commissar. I believe the results are not a true reflection of the will of the people of Midlands because there was massive rigging," said Mavima.
"I am seeking the total nullification of the Shurugwi North election results and a rerun done by independent people. In that constituency we also had Chief Nhema, wearing his chieftaincy badge, going around threatening to evict people who don't vote for Machaya," he said.
"I think Zanu-PF is a democratic party and everyone has a right to be heard. I am merely demanding that my right to be heard is observed."
Shamu could not be reached for comment.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, however, told the press this week that the elections reflected the will of the people and urged losing candidates to accept the results.
"Zanu-PF provincial elections have been conducted in two of the nation's provinces and the revolutionary party is happy to report that in both instances, the voting process was smooth, free, credible and reflected the will of the respective provincial members," said Gumbo.
"We urge those who did not make it to appreciate that there are no winners and losers in the party. We are a united party, driven by a common goal."