Former air force boss Air Marshall  Perrance Shiri has said that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga did not want to be VP.

Instead of taking over government, he chose to return to the barracks after completing the Operation Restore Order last year.

The development is to fall hard against the backdrop of news developments that allege that army generals do not at all want Emmerson Mnangagwa to continue his presidency after the 2018 elections. Latest developments claim that there is now a second faction in the ZANU PF party, that of military bosses who are wrestling power from Lacoste faction.

Speaking at Chakari Stadium in Mashonaland West on Sunday, Shiri praised Chiwenga for not seizing power but following due procedure during Operation Restore Legacy.

Shiri, quoted by the state media said, “General Chiwenga is the person who orchestrated Operation Restore Legacy.

“He is a principled man who does things in honesty. If it was someone else, he could have taken over power, declaring that he was in charge (of State and Government).

“There was nothing that could have stopped him since he was in charge of the army. General Chiwenga is a person who is politically mature and with the people and country at heart. Due to political orientation, he understood that hove huru dzinofamba nemurongwa (leadership renewal follows laid down procedures).

“As a result, the party chose President Emmerson Mnangagwa to lead the party, while VP Chiwenga wanted to return to the barracks. However, President Mnangagwa appointed him Vice President and second secretary of the ruling Zanu-PF party.”