Chiwenga In Fresh Health Scare
24 January 2025
Spread the love
Chiwenga with a bandage

By Munacho Gwamanda- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who has long struggled with chronic health issues, has once again sparked widespread concern after being seen with a conspicuous bandage on his face.

Images of Chiwenga surfaced on Thursday at the National Heroes Acre and again on Friday at the late Justin Mupamhanga’s family home in Harare. 

The visuals have reignited speculation that the Vice President may be grappling with yet another health complication, adding to his long and well-documented history of medical challenges.

Since the military coup of November 2017, which he led to oust the late President Robert Mugabe, Chiwenga has been dogged by recurring health problems that have necessitated frequent medical trips abroad.

Initially treated in South Africa, the Vice President has since sought specialized care in India and China, where he reportedly underwent procedures for oesophagal complications and other undisclosed conditions.

In 2019, Chiwenga’s health issues became a national talking point after he spent months in a Chinese hospital receiving treatment for what was described as a life-threatening illness. 

Later that year, public concern deepened when images of a visibly frail and emaciated Chiwenga emerged, fueling speculation about his ability to continue in public office.

The latest development—marked by the bandage on his face—has raised fresh doubts about his fitness to serve in one of Zimbabwe’s highest offices.

Chiwenga’s health challenges have also complicated his political ambitions. 

He is seen as a contender to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2028, provided he can fend off Mnangagwa loyalists who are lobbying for the President’s continued rule.

However, critics argue that Chiwenga’s persistent health problems not only hinder his capacity to effectively carry out his current responsibilities but also cast serious doubt on his ability to lead the nation as head of state.

Analysts warn that the Vice President’s fragile health could exacerbate existing instability within Zanu PF, a party already plagued by internal divisions and factional power struggles. 

These challenges come at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with deepening economic woes and governance crises.

The Zimbabwean government’s habitual silence on the health of senior officials only fuels public speculation.

Much like the late Robert Mugabe, whose deteriorating health was shrouded in secrecy, Chiwenga’s recurring medical trips have become emblematic of a leadership increasingly described by critics as “moving graves.”