ZANU-PF backs Mnangagwa's 2030 bid amid rising tensions: Protests grow at nepotism and corruption in the ruling clique as the economy staggers on despite the mining upturn.

The article focuses on the political consolidation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his faction within Zimbabwe's ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), following the party's October 2025 conference in Mutare. Mnangagwa's faction secured endorsement for extending his presidency until 2030, sidelining Vice-President General Constantino Chiwenga and overriding the constitutional two-term limit through parliamentary maneuvers. The article details internal party conflicts, including corruption accusations against Mnangagwa's allies and the weakening of Chiwenga's faction, as well as the use of intimidation and control over security forces to maintain power. Additionally, it highlights the role of business figures close to Mnangagwa in consolidating influence within ZANU-PF. The piece also briefly touches on tensions in Nigeria, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejects a U.S. designation of religious freedom violations amid threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene militarily over attacks on Christians.