Zanu PF secretary-general Jacob Mudenda reminded party members that no leadership position is eternal, including the presidency, and must never be treated as private property.
He warned party members against personalising leadership positions, reminding them that offices outlive individuals.
He was addressing a Mashonaland West provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting in Chinhoyi.
Mudenda said leaders come and go, but party structures remain, urging members to embrace humility and merit-based leadership.
“Members must know that today you are a central committee member; tomorrow you may be gone,” he said.
“Even if you are a politburo member, tomorrow you may not be there.
"But the positions will remain to be filled by other members.
"So do not be fooled by these positions because they belong to the party."
He said leadership transitions are natural and inevitable.
“Even the presidency — first it was Canaan (Banana), then (president Robert) Mugabe,” he declared.
“They are all gone. Today we have President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and tomorrow he will be gone. That is God’s law.”
His comments came amid spirited attempts to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond its constitutional expiry in 2028 to 2030.
The proposal is contained in Constitutional Amendment Number 3, which has since been gazetted.
The Bill proposes sweeping changes that include extending the president's term and that of parliament by two more years.
It also proposes scrapping direct presidential elections and shifting the vote for President to Parliament.
Critics have argued that the amendments should be subject to a referendum, a charge the government insists is not true.
Government has argued that the Bill will be voted on in Parliament because it does not seek to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure, but only to change the electoral cycle.
Mudenda also reminded party bigwigs to respect grassroots structures.
“You must have respect for all party structures right down to the village level because the party exists because of them, notwithstanding your current position,” he said.
He warned against clinging to positions of authority.
“Let us not possess these positions. They are meant to facilitate us as stewards to work for the people,” Mudenda said.
Mudenda also urged members to choose leaders on merit for the party to flourish.
He was speaking against the backdrop of reported infighting within Zanu PF as the party prepares for its elective congress scheduled for next year.