By Political Reporter – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has succeeded in outmanoeuvring his Boss, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has since 2018 been trying to sideline him.
Chiwenga, in November 2017, led a coup that removed President Robert Mugabe from power.
Despite numerous attempts and near-misses, Mnangagwa conceded to military pressure last week, announcing he would not extend his rule beyond 2028.
This abrupt retreat signals a definitive win for Chiwenga and his military allies, who have long resisted Mnangagwa’s ambitions to stay in power under his much-touted 2030 Vision.
Since their orchestrated 2017 coup ousted former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa and Chiwenga’s alliance has been fractured by rivalry.
Initially, Mnangagwa was expected to govern for one term before handing the reins to Chiwenga, which was in line with what former Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Busi Moyo described as their “gentlemen’s agreement.”
However, after narrowly winning the contested 2018 election, Mnangagwa extended his rule ambitions, much to Chiwenga’s dismay.
As Mnangagwa shifted Zanu-PF’s power dynamics, turning to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) for support rather than the army, tensions escalated.
His controversial 2023 victory, achieved through a CIO-driven electoral operation, demonstrated the lengths he was willing to go to retain control.
CIO’s clandestine network, known as Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) and headed by retired Brigadier-General Walter Tapfumaneyi, ran the election campaign in secrecy, sidelining the army’s influence in electoral logistics.
Yet, Mnangagwa’s continued manoeuvres for extended rule through 2030 stoked ire among Chiwenga’s military supporters, including Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Anseelem Sanyatwe, who rallied against Mnangagwa’s vision of prolonged dominance.
The ongoing tension culminated in a political standoff at the Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo, where Chiwenga’s faction openly opposed Mnangagwa’s 2030 Vision campaign.
Mnangagwa’s recent gesture to bring General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, into the Zanu-PF politburo as a possible counterbalance also fell flat, with his plan rebuffed as unconstitutional.
In response, Chiwenga’s allies revived threats of a “silent coup,” evoking the possibility of a 2017-style intervention should Mnangagwa continue down his path.
Their ultimatum forced Mnangagwa into a rare retreat. Although he publicly attributed his decision to a commitment to constitutionalism, insiders reveal it was Chiwenga’s stern warning — underscored by reminders of Mugabe’s fall — that finally shifted Mnangagwa’s stance.
Sources close to the matter say the tension in Bulawayo went beyond speeches and slogans.
Military insiders reiterated to Mnangagwa that they would not support another manipulated electoral cycle in his favour.
While Mnangagwa’s camp tried to claim a “strategic retreat,” it’s clear that Chiwenga’s allies secured a decisive win, leaving Mnangagwa’s ambitions in disarray.
Political analysts believe Chiwenga’s faction is now positioning him as the likely successor in 2028.
Mnangagwa’s retreat effectively places Zimbabwe on a countdown toward a new era, with Chiwenga and the military signaling a return to dominance as the ultimate arbiters of Zimbabwean leadership.
However, as the country watches, questions linger over the stability of this transition — and whether Mnangagwa’s temporary retreat could lead to a new, calculated comeback.
For now, Chiwenga and his military allies hold the upper hand, standing ready to enforce the political legacy Mnangagwa can no longer extend.