When General Constantino Chiwenga stepped to the podium in Mutare this week, there was
something conspicuously absent: the ceremonial introduction of President Mnangagwa.
Instead, Chiwenga delivered an uncompromising address that read less like a vice‑presidential speech and more like a direct challenge to the presidency itself. That calculated deviation is not a slip of protocol — it is a signal. Zimbabwe is witnessing the re‑opening of what many had thought settled: the internal struggle for control of ZANU‑PF and the state.
Chiwenga challenges Mnangagwa with accusations of cronyism and elite enrichment
Chiwenga’s speech leaned into grievances long whispered: that Mnangagwa has turned ZANU‑PF into a vehicle for cronyism, allowing a “parallel” decision‑making architecture within the presidency and a handful of “Zvigananda” elites to loot state resources. He warned that the lofty Vision 2030 must not become a cover for elite enrichment. His tone was not conciliatory but unmistakably adversarial.
That Chiwenga is accusing Mnangagwa of repeating the sins of Mugabe-era patronage — a man he helped instal in 2017 — is rich in irony. It suggests that the rebellion is not born of reformist zeal but raw ambition. And though Mnangagwa’s camp has already returned fire — accusing him of treasonous incitement and recklessness — the timing and audacity of Chiwenga’s gambit give him leverage.
Chiwenga stakes moral high ground, but power struggle hinges on alliances
The theatre of this moment matters. By refusing to cede stage to Mnangagwa, Chiwenga is
symbolically claiming the higher ground. He is asserting a narrative in which the true president is under threat from an inner clique, and that he — Chiwenga — is the knight in possession of the original liberation values. In a movement long hollowed out by personalised power, appearance and messaging now cut deeper than battalions. But outsmarting Mnangagwa is not simply about rhetorical maneuver — it depends on alliances. The military, war veterans and influential party elders remain key. Mnangagwa
has sought to sack or reshuffle security chiefs, a classic “coup‑proofing” posture. If Chiwenga’s claim to moral high ground cannot be backed by institutional loyalty and patronage, it may yet collapse under counterattack.
High stakes, uncertain outcomes
From the vantage of the public, this is danger, not drama: Zimbabwe teeters yet again on intra‑elite fissure, without meaningful reform or accountability. But for those watching ZANU‑PF’s corridors of power, Chiwenga’s overt bid may well be his best move so far. Whether it succeeds, and whether Zimbabweans benefit, remains very much in balance.
HAVE YOU CHECKED THIS OUT: Prezident Chiki lights up Mashwede: A night to remember at Mashwede Braai and Bar Centre