Tinotenda Hove- ZANU PF’s Mashonaland West provincial leadership has thrown its weight behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to retain the party’s top post, endorsing him as its preferred candidate for First Secretary and President at the next party Congress.

The endorsement forms part of 26 resolutions adopted by the province ahead of the ruling party’s Annual National People’s Conference scheduled for October in Chinhoyi.

The move is likely to fuel further debate within ZANU PF over the succession question, particularly as provinces continue to make their positions known on the party’s leadership and future direction.

Mashonaland West also wants changes to the ZANU PF constitution to bring it into line with Zimbabwe’s national Constitution. Among the proposed changes are provisions concerning the tenure of party leaders and the timing of elections within the party’s structures.

The resolutions are expected to be tabled for wider discussion at the national conference, where they could trigger fresh debate over the relationship between the party’s internal rules, leadership succession and the country’s constitutional framework.