Chiwenga Invades Roman Catholic Church Service
3 February 2025
Spread the love

James Gwati– Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his wife, Colonel Miniyothabo, attended a Roman Catholic Church service in Harare on Sunday.

During the church service, Chiwenga joined the Catholic’s guide wing and became a volunteer.

Dressed in formal attire before donning the guild’s robe with the help of his wife, Colonel Miniyothabo Chiwenga, the former military general attended the service in a display that sparked speculation about his political and personal trajectory.

A Catholic guild is a group of faithful united by their Catholic beliefs, often working together to support their local community.

Some guilds are occupational, while others focus on specific church activities.

Chiwenga’s membership comes at a time of heightened political tension within the ruling ZANU-PF, where he remains locked in a power struggle with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga, a career soldier who rose to become the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), played a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s political history.

A battle-hardened veteran of the liberation war, he steadily climbed the ranks in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), eventually becoming a close ally of then-President Robert Mugabe before turning against him in 2017.

His defining moment came in November 2017, when he led a military coup under the pretense of “restoring order” within ZANU-PF.

Dubbed “Operation Restore Legacy,” the coup ousted Mugabe after 37 years in power, paving the way for Mnangagwa—who had just been fired as Vice President—to assume the presidency.

Chiwenga was rewarded with the Vice Presidency and the powerful post of Minister of Defence, signalling the military’s grip on civilian politics.

Despite their alliance during the coup, Chiwenga’s relationship with Mnangagwa has since soured.

The two men represent different factions within ZANU-PF: Mnangagwa leads the civilian political elite, while Chiwenga embodies the military-backed old guard.

Over the years, their rivalry has played out through political maneuvering, purges, and even suspected assassination attempts.

Chiwenga’s mysterious health ailments, which led him to seek medical treatment in China, fueled speculation that he was being targeted.

At the same time, Mnangagwa has moved to consolidate power by sidelining military-linked figures and appointing loyalists to key positions, including within the security sector.

In ZANU-PF circles, Chiwenga is often viewed as the biggest internal threat to Mnangagwa’s grip on power.

Some analysts believe he is strategically positioning himself to take over through the 2028 elections or another internal party shake-up.

Chiwenga’s decision to publicly embrace his Catholic faith may be more than just a personal commitment—it could also be a calculated political move.

The church holds significant influence in Zimbabwean society, and aligning with religious institutions has long been a tactic for politicians seeking broader appeal beyond their traditional support bases.

For a man who has spent most of his life in the barracks and political corridors, the rare sight of Chiwenga in church adds an intriguing layer to his political manoeuvring.