President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, as well as Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, Secretary-General Jacob Mudenda and chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri attended the inaugural President’s Ball fundraising dinner at the Hippodrome in Harare, but Chiwenga was a no-show. Chiwenga, who is locked in a fierce and deadly succession battle with Mnangagwa, is the only one in the presidium of the party who wasn’t there.
The high-profile event aimed to raise US$6 million for the upcoming Zanu National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi from 12-17 October was organised by Philip Chiyangwa, chairman of the fund-raising committee. Chiwenga also boycotted the funeral of the late Zanu PF funder, local tycoon Wicknell Chivayo, during the week.