By Farai D Hove | ZimEye | Harare, Zimbabwe – ZANU PF has posted a video of President Emmerson Mnangagwa that suggests he has announced that his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, violated the ZANU-PF constitution by addressing internal party matters at the Heroes Acre hilltop last Monday. The revelation has intensified speculation that Mnangagwa is preparing to dismiss his long-time ally, escalating tensions within the ruling party.
In the undated video uploaded by his videographers, Mnangagwa is seen expressing frustration and the video has been posted in a way to suggest he is complaining over Chiwenga’s public remarks, which he condemned as an outright breach of the ZANU PF party constitution.
Mnangagwa lamented that his calls for party unity and internal dispute resolution had not only been ignored but that the behaviour had worsened.
“There are many things that have been spoken in the party that affect my name without me replying because I have an agenda to maintain the party,” Mnangagwa said. “It is not right for members of the party to attack each other in the open, to ascend a hilltop to insult each other. It is not allowed according to our constitution in the party. If we have issues that we want to speak on or dispute each other, we have forums to attend to them.”
This video was posted after Chiwenga took an unprecedented step on Monday by publicly criticizing Mnangagwa’s briefcase runner, Wicknell Chivayo, who has been embroiled in controversy. Chiwenga, referencing the liberation war, remarked: “During the war, there were no mbingas or fat-bellied businessmen,” in what many interpreted as a direct attack on Mnangagwa’s so called mbinga runners.
Mnangagwa’s Next Move: Firing Chiwenga?
According to sources close to the ruling party, Mnangagwa has been planning to remove Chiwenga, and his latest remarks may signal the beginning of that process. A senior party insider told ZimEye:
“Mnangagwa’s plan to remove Chiwenga is good because it will be his end.”
The fallout between the two top leaders has long been anticipated, with Mnangagwa previously issuing veiled threats to those who challenge his rule. In a chilling remark late last year, he declared:
“Any person wishing to replace me needs to first go through the death row. You must take poison first.”
This latest development follows Mnangagwa’s controversial attempts to introduce a fictitious 2017 “army-tricking” poison claim. The project spearheaded by armed robbery-charged Maxwell Chikumbutso, was apparently aimed at distracting the army’s disaffection of Mnangagwa that has grown. However, the plan has reportedly failed to gain traction.
War Veterans Challenge Mnangagwa and Chikumbutso
As the internal power struggle rages, war veterans have announced that they will be holding a press conference on Sunday, demanding answers from Mnangagwa and Chikumbutso regarding their claims of poisoning and an “endless electricity” invention.
The veterans have listed a series of pointed questions, including:
1. Poisoning Claims: Were Mnangagwa and Chikumbutso ever poisoned? Where is the documented medical evidence?
2. Fraud and Armed Robbery Links: Why did Chikumbutso not disclose his convictions over fraud and armed robbery charges?
3. Political Confusion: Are Mnangagwa and Chikumbutso introducing endless electricity or endless political turmoil?
4. Secret Army Allegations: Are the two assembling a secret army of robbers to maintain control for another 20 years?
5. State House Scandals: Why did Mnangagwa appoint convicted armed robber Paradzayi Kutyauripo as Director of State House properties?
What’s Next?
The public rift between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga marks a dramatic turn in Zimbabwean politics. If Mnangagwa moves to fire Chiwenga, it could trigger a larger crisis within ZANU-PF and the government. The military, which played a crucial role in Mnangagwa’s rise to power in 2017, remains a key factor in determining the outcome of this power struggle.
This is a developing story. A statement from Mnangagwa was not available at the time of writing.
— ZimEye