Chiwenga accused of incitement, treason

Published: 6 hours ago

A deepening power struggle at the heart of Zanu-PF burst into the open this week after President Emmerson Mnangagwa's allies accused Vice President Constantino Chiwenga of attempting to "undermine a constitutionally elected government" and "incite despondency" through a blistering 17-page memorandum attacking the president's leadership.

The unprecedented confrontation - revealed through two confidential documents tabled before the Zanu-PF politburo - marks the sharpest public rift yet between the two men who jointly led the 2017 military coup that toppled long-time ruler Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa's response, authored by Zanu-PF legal secretary and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, was presented to the politburo on Tuesday. It described Chiwenga's document as "treasonous, fundamentally flawed, and ignorant of party and constitutional procedure."

"At its core, the document advocates for the unlawful removal of a constitutionally elected President," Ziyambi wrote. "Any attempt to destabilise or subvert a constitutionally elected government is treasonous."

In his September 17 dossier, Chiwenga accused Mnangagwa of betraying the ideals of the 2017 coup, presiding over "corruption, capture, and betrayal," and allowing a coterie of businessmen to loot more than US$3.2 billion from state coffers.

"We cannot fold our hands and watch these criminals like Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Wicknell Chivhayo, Scott Sakupwanya, and Delish Nguwaya corrupt and bribe our structures and destroy our party," Chiwenga wrote, demanding their immediate arrest.

He further warned that Mnangagwa's "2030 Agenda" - which many in the party interpret as a plan to extend his rule beyond the constitutional limit of 2028 - risked repeating "the ills that led to November 2017."

Ziyambi's counter-document hit back hard, describing Chiwenga's allegations as "false, malicious and reckless." He said Zimbabwe was a constitutional democracy with established institutions to address corruption and that no individual could "investigate their perceived competitors to satisfy personal ego."

In a striking revelation, Ziyambi disclosed that businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei - one of those Chiwenga accused of corruption - had financed the 2017 military operation.

"Mr. Tagwirei put in a total of five million litres of fuel, food and other provisions for soldiers as requested by then CDF General Chiwenga," Ziyambi wrote. "He also provided one million litres of fuel and US$1.6 million to the party."

He defended controversial transactions such as the Kuvimba Mining House share transfers and the Pomona waste management deal, saying both had full Cabinet approval and were compliant with procurement laws.

"Zanu-PF does not own any shares in Sakunda Holdings," the document stated. "All contracts were concluded in accordance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act."

The response also turned personal, accusing Chiwenga of "bitterness" and "immaturity."

"A good leader is a good follower. The author has shown he is not a good follower and therefore cannot be a leader," Ziyambi said, adding that "to question what happens to the president in his private space is intrusive."

He further accused Chiwenga of hypocrisy for holding political meetings at his private farm, saying other presidium members also do so without interference.

The rebuttal dismissed Chiwenga's claim that exiled former minister Jonathan Moyo was behind a "treasonous" plan called the Breaking Barriers Initiative (BBI) to suspend elections until 2035, calling it "strange and regrettable."
Ziyambi claimed the BBI was in fact an opposition document first brought to him by CCC interim leader Sengezo Tshabangu and a "General Khumalo from the Vice President's Office."

He likened Chiwenga's memo to narratives "peddled by hostile media and rebels like Blessed Geza," recommending that politburo members undergo reorientation at the Chitepo School of Ideology.

Zanu-PF insiders said National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri rebuked Chiwenga during the politburo meeting, reportedly telling him:

"We all went to war. There is nothing special about coming from the barracks."

Patrick Chinamasa, another senior official, allegedly reminded Chiwenga that the president "owns all land," in response to his criticism of the land tenure implementation committee chaired by Tagwirei.

Chiwenga reportedly spoke briefly after the attacks, saying only:

"I've listened to all your presentations and I'm convinced that all of you support zvigananda. It's okay. I acknowledge it."

Witnesses described the room as falling silent after his remark.

Zanu-PF sources told ZimLive that the exchange has deepened factional divisions ahead of the party's annual conference in Mutare, which runs this week.

Chiwenga's dossier is said to have the backing of several retired generals and some members of the Women's League, while Mnangagwa's camp - which controls the politburo - ensured the president's counter-document was adopted without debate.

Neither Mnangagwa nor Chiwenga have publicly commented, but senior officials privately concede that this is the first open confrontation between the two men since 2017, setting the stage for a potentially explosive showdown over the party's future direction and leadership succession.
- zimlive

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