For Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the past few years have been a gauntlet of personal and political challenges. From prolonged hospital stays and a highly publicised, acrimonious divorce to the loss of key allies through Covid-19 and political sidelining, Chiwenga has weathered a storm. Throughout it all, one figure has remained a constant source of stability: his wife, army Colonel Miniyothabo ‘Minnie’ Baloyi.
More than just a spouse, Baloyi has emerged as a key strategist, actively reshaping Chiwenga’s public image and projecting him as a caring family man. She has skillfully leveraged digital platforms to court Zimbabwe’s Gen Z, a demographic crucial to any future political ambitions.
As the retired general increasingly positions himself for a potential succession battle against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Baloyi’s influence is becoming impossible to ignore. Her strategic acumen and carefully cultivated public persona are playing an increasingly significant role in Chiwenga’s political trajectory.
Born in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, in 1976, Baloyi’s background is as diverse as her current portfolio. She entered the Zimbabwe National Army in 1996 after completing secondary school, laying the foundation for a distinguished military career. Her service extended beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, including United Nations peacekeeping deployments in countries such as Angola, providing her with valuable exposure to international operations.
According to sources within ZANU-PF inner circles, Baloyi’s relationship with Chiwenga predates the pivotal 2017 military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe and ultimately elevated Emmerson Mnangagwa to the presidency. At the time, Chiwenga commanded the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, while Baloyi was steadily climbing the ranks, eventually being promoted to colonel in 2019.
Baloyi has also invested heavily in her education and business ventures. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Zimbabwe and a doctorate in business administration from Midlands State University. Furthermore, she operates high-end fashion boutiques in Harare, a venture that serves both as a commercial enterprise and a strategic bridge to Zimbabwe’s cultural influencers.
Her language skills are another key asset. Baloyi is fluent in Mandarin, a skill she honed through studies in China. This aligns with Mugabe’s ‘Look East’ policy, which reoriented Zimbabwe toward Beijing after Western sanctions in the early 2000s.
In a political landscape where China remains Zimbabwe’s most significant external ally, her Mandarin proficiency is more than just symbolic. Observers suggest it could become a strategic advantage should Chiwenga eventually succeed Mnangagwa as president, facilitating deeper engagement with a crucial international partner.
The depth of their relationship was evident even before their marriage became public. In 2019, when Vice President Chiwenga was hospitalised in South Africa and later airlifted to China for further treatment, Colonel Baloyi was among the select few granted permission to visit him at a time when access was tightly controlled.
This occurred against the backdrop of Chiwenga’s acrimonious divorce from Marry Mubaiwa. He accused Mubaiwa of attempting to kill him during his hospital stay, and she was later arrested in December 2019 on fraud charges after allegedly attempting to upgrade their customary union into a civil marriage.
The couple formalised their union in 2022 with a high-profile Catholic wedding in Borrowdale, Harare. The event was attended by President Mnangagwa, First Lady Auxillia, ministers, and prominent members of the business community, signalling the significance of the union within Zimbabwe’s political establishment. Cabinet Secretary Misheck Sibanda formally announced Chiwenga’s marriage to Baloyi.
The union came during a period when Chiwenga’s political standing appeared to be at a low ebb. Covid-19 had claimed the lives of close allies Perrence Shiri and Sibusiso Moyo, while Mnangagwa had strategically sidelined him by retiring or redeploying his loyal lieutenants as ambassadors during his hospitalisation. Baloyi provided not only personal stability but also a symbolic reset at a time when Chiwenga’s political stock appeared to be weakening.
Her most visible project, however, has been the careful management of Chiwenga’s public image. The vice president now appears in carefully coordinated outfits with his wife at public events, including this year’s Independence Day celebrations, projecting an image of unity and sophistication.
Baloyi’s fashion choices have drawn comparisons to former first lady Grace Mugabe, once dubbed ‘Gucci Grace’ for her taste for luxury. Sources suggest she remains closer to Grace than to current first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa. Baloyi’s attendance at Grace’s 60th birthday reinforced that perception, signalling ties to Mugabe-era networks even as her husband competes within ZANU-PF’s post-Mugabe order.
She has also accompanied Chiwenga on several international trips, including visits to France and the Vatican City, further enhancing his profile on the global stage.
Chiwenga has increasingly positioned himself as a champion of anti-corruption as the battle to succeed Mnangagwa intensifies. He has publicly criticised corrupt businessmen who allegedly benefit from government tenders, accusing them of looting the country. He recently warned these individuals that a reckoning was inevitable.
While Chiwenga is widely expected to succeed Mnangagwa when he steps down in 2028, some of the President’s supporters are reportedly plotting to extend his term beyond the constitutional limit. Chiwenga also faces challenges from other potential rivals, including businessmen Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Baloyi is also playing a crucial role in appealing to Zimbabwe’s younger generation. With her digital skills, she is actively reshaping Chiwenga’s image and engaging with Gen Z on social media platforms. While he was previously known primarily as a powerful military general, Chiwenga is now being presented to many young people as a soft, caring husband and a potential leader who can bring positive change to Zimbabwe.
She regularly posts pictures of her family at public events, in church, and even on beaches abroad on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Through these carefully curated posts, she provides a front-seat view into the life of a once reserved and guarded military figure. She even engages with Gen Z in the comments sections, showcasing her charm and humility.
Eldred Masunungure, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, notes that Colonel Baloyi has adopted a sophisticated strategy to influence the Gen Z demographic. “Though she is not a social media influencer of Zimbabwe, indications are that she is making an impact in boosting her husband’s political profile as well as projecting the image of a stable marriage,” he observes. “At a personal level, she strikes most people as decent, calm and above all disciplined without trying to encroach too deeply into active politics. To date, she exudes the right gravitas.”
Unlike Grace Mugabe and Auxillia Mnangagwa, both of whom actively immersed themselves in partisan politics, Baloyi has aligned herself with women’s and youth initiatives, notably serving as patron of Miss Universe Zimbabwe. This allows her to connect with a broader segment of the population without being perceived as overly political.
At public events, Baloyi is often seen carrying bottled water and snacks for the vice president — a small but telling precaution that ensures he avoids food or drink offered by ZANU-PF officials. The gesture underscores her acute awareness of the sometimes dangerous, even lethal, rivalries within the ruling party.
“Beyond this, she is generating and marshalling political capital in Matabeleland and in the process sanitising whatever dark image the General had in the region,” says Masunungure, highlighting her efforts to improve Chiwenga’s image in a region where he has faced historical challenges.
As Zimbabwe navigates its complex political landscape, ‘Minnie’ Baloyi is proving to be more than just a supportive spouse. She is a shrewd strategist, a skilled image-maker, and a force to be reckoned with in her own right, positioning herself as a potential First Lady and playing an increasingly influential role in shaping Zimbabwe’s future.
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