Gweru – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has issued a stern warning to Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube, a staunch loyalist of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, amidst escalating tensions within Zanu-PF over the controversial push to extend the president’s stay in power beyond constitutional limits, The Standard has reported.
The confrontation, witnessed by senior government officials and Zanu-PF leaders, occurred last Wednesday in Gweru, where Chiwenga was officiating the handover of the Independence Day flame to Midlands province, with Ncube acting as the host.
According to sources present at the Mutapa Community Hall event in Mutapa suburb, the retired Army General appeared visibly angered as he confronted Ncube upon arrival.
As Chiwenga greeted ministers and senior Zanu-PF officials, shaking their hands, he reportedly turned to Ncube and stated: “You are hunting for me. What will happen when the hunter becomes the hunted?”
The former State Security minister, known by his moniker “Mudha,” was reportedly taken aback by Chiwenga’s unexpected remark and remained speechless, managing only a grin, seemingly in shock.
Notably, Ncube and other supporters of the “2030 agenda” – the campaign to extend Mnangagwa’s term – refrained from wearing their usual party regalia and chanting slogans in support of the president’s continued rule, a departure from the norm at Zanu-PF events.
“The situation was very tense,” a Zanu-PF official in the Midlands, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed.
The incident underscores the deepening divisions within Zanu-PF over the succession issue, particularly in light of the “2030 agenda” and its implications for Chiwenga’s own presidential ambitions.
Recent comments by Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa to UK-based investigative journalism platform DugUp have further fuelled the flames. Mutsvangwa claimed that Mnangagwa does not want Chiwenga to succeed him and that the push to extend the president’s term to 2030 is a deliberate attempt to frustrate the VP’s aspirations.
Mutsvangwa alleged that Chiwenga had hoped for Mnangagwa to anoint him as his successor. “That guy wanted to be anointed to become president, to become a successor to the president,” he said.
“So you want to remove the president but before you do so you want him to appoint, to annoint you. How do you do that? You’re squaring a circle!”
Mutsvangwa further alluded to historical precedent, stating: “(Robert) Mugabe used to say I will nominate, I will give you my successor but the president (Mnangagwa) is saying no, we must go for elections. That’s normal for a democratic party.”
Sources within Zanu-PF suggest that Mnangagwa’s loyalists are actively plotting to weaken Chiwenga’s influence, particularly within the security forces, to diminish his chances of securing the presidency.
The recent retirement of Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe and his subsequent appointment as Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture minister is seen by some as part of this strategy. Sanyatwe, a known ally of Chiwenga, was removed from his position in the army, allegedly to reduce their combined influence on the security forces.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, a faction within Zanu-PF loyal to Mnangagwa is reportedly advocating for businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei to replace Chiwenga as Vice President. Harare province recently recommended that Tagwirei be elevated to the central committee, further indicating a potential shift in power dynamics.
“Mnangagwa is under pressure from Zanu PF elements to fire Chiwenga because they fear that he may target them over corrupt activities once he gets power, and they wanted him fired or exterminated in order to deal with the threat,” a senior Zanu-PF official stated.
Chiwenga has been increasingly vocal in recent months about combating corruption, particularly among politically exposed individuals, describing it as a threat to national security. Notably, he has refrained from publicly endorsing the “2030 agenda.”
Meanwhile, outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza has been leading calls for Mnangagwa’s removal from office, even threatening to initiate impeachment proceedings.
The current tensions represent a significant shift in the political landscape, given Chiwenga’s instrumental role in Mnangagwa’s rise to power. As the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Chiwenga led the coup that ousted Robert Mugabe in 2017, paving the way for Mnangagwa to assume the presidency.
These sensational allegations come amidst a backdrop of intensifying factionalism within Zanu PF, with the power struggle between Chiwenga and President Emmerson Mnangagwa now playing out in the open.
The GCVSA’s claims arrive as expelled Zanu PF Central Committee member and militant war veteran Blessed “Bombshell” Geza has reignited political tensions in Zimbabwe with a series of explosive allegations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his administration.
In a statement shared with New Zimbabwe, the GCVSA asserted they were privy to a plot not only to eliminate Chiwenga but also to target anyone participating in a planned demonstration slated for March 31st.
“We pre-empt and categorically expose the treasonous move to deploy mercenaries imported from Sierra Leone, assigned with the heinous mission of eliminating General Chiwenga,” declared Ntokozo Msipha, the organisation’s secretary general.
“This foreign interference in our national affairs is an act of war! We warn those involved your names are known, your movements tracked, and your betrayal of Zimbabwe will be met with full consequences.”
