Mnangagwa downplays rift with Chiwenga at ZANU PF conference

Public Clashes at the Chinhoyi Conference

President Emmerson Mnangagwa downplayed a public political rift with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, describing tension as normal within a revolutionary party during the 23rd ZANU PF National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province. On stage, both leaders traded sharp remarks for the initial time since the Second Republic began, an era initiated by the November 2017 coup that removed Robert Mugabe, in which both men played major parts. Vice President Chiwenga took the podium first to introduce the president and questioned whether the ruling party was repeating past missteps.

“Hatisi kudzokorodza here zvatakanganisa zvakaita kuti second republic ivepo,” Chiwenga asked the crowd, querying whether current leadership is repeating the mistakes that collapsed the First Republic. Operating under the banner of G40, ‘criminals surrounding Mugabe’ were accused of systemic government corruption, which served as the rationale for Operation Restore Legacy—the military intervention championed by Chiwenga that overthrew Mugabe’s administration. In contrast, President Mnangagwa defended the internal friction after the conference proceedings concluded.

“ZANU PF is united. In any movement, you have people who divert from the centre of the party. That is expected. But overall, the party is united,” Mnangagwa told reporters at the weekend. However, the president issued a direct warning to dissenting members. “Any revolutionary party will always have people that fail to run the correct line and fall by the wayside,” he added.

Shifting Power and Constitutional Moves

The public disagreement exposes a deepening struggle over President Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his incumbency to 2030. Concluding his second and final term originally scheduled for 2028, Mnangagwa’s rule was prolonged via the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Act, which halted elections, while the Chinhoyi weekend indaba solidified this strategy by voting to modify the party constitution to conform with the national charter, thereby paving the way for the veteran ZANU PF leader to secure his grip on power.

Provincial chairpersons quickly mobilized to defend the president while attacking the retired army general. Mashonaland East chairperson Daniel Garwe delivered a pointed warning that a bad follower today makes a bad leader tomorrow. Midlands chairperson Edson Chiherenge echoed that stance by declaring that the vice president’s time has not come yet. Meanwhile, Chiwenga has pursued an anti-corruption campaign targeting unscrupulous businessmen locally known as ‘Zvigananda’ linked to current President Mnangagwa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggered the public fallout between President Mnangagwa and Vice President Chiwenga?

The tension surfaced openly over disagreements regarding party direction and President Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his incumbency to 2030, contrasting with Chiwenga’s anti-corruption crusade.

How was President Mnangagwa’s term extended beyond 2028?

The extension was secured through the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Act, which suspended elections, a move cemented at the ZANU PF conference in Chinhoyi by resolving to rejig the party constitution to align with the country’s supreme law.

What role did the vice president play in the 2017 political transition?

Playing a major role in the military takeover known as Operation Restore Legacy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga helped execute the removal of Mugabe’s administration, which was defended on the basis of widespread governmental corruption.