Calls for Chiwenga to resign shot down

Published: 7 hours ago

Tensions within ZANU PF are escalating after a faction of war veterans publicly defended Vice President Constantino Chiwenga against calls for his resignation over remarks interpreted as criticism of proposed constitutional changes.

The intervention by a faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, led by chairperson Ethan Mathibela, comes amid growing unease within the ruling party over the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3.

The dispute intensified after former Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa urged Chiwenga to resign, accusing him of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In posts on X, Mliswa alleged that the Vice President was aligning himself with opposition narratives and subtly challenging the party's stance on constitutional reforms.

The criticism followed Chiwenga's appearance at a Roman Catholic gathering in Murewa, where he delivered a biblical reflection on King Hezekiah—who, after being told he would die, prayed for more time and was granted an additional 15 years, a reprieve that later brought unintended consequences.

The analogy has been widely interpreted in political circles as a veiled critique of efforts to amend the Constitution, potentially extending Mnangagwa's tenure—an interpretation that has fuelled debate within Zanu PF.

Mliswa described the remarks as "a brazen attack" on the President, arguing that Chiwenga should have opposed the constitutional amendment through internal party structures rather than making what he termed indirect public criticisms.

"For one so close to the President to resort to this is diplomatically gross and strategically poor," Mliswa said. "He should resign and then canvass for support elsewhere if he disagrees with the direction of the party."

However, Mathibela dismissed the calls as "misplaced" and legally unfounded, warning against what he described as the politicisation of religious expression.

He argued that Zimbabwe's Constitution guarantees freedoms of religion, expression and association, which apply equally to public officials.

"The mere fact that the Vice President occupies high office does not curtail his right to worship, to reflect and to share his faith. To suggest otherwise is to advance a dangerous and unconstitutional doctrine," Mathibela said.

He added that participation in a church service and sharing scriptural reflections could not reasonably constitute misconduct or grounds for resignation.

"Calls for resignation in a constitutional democracy must be grounded in clear and substantive issues such as illegality or failure to discharge duties, not matters of personal faith," he said.

Mathibela also cautioned against what he termed the growing tendency to politicise religious spaces for narrow agendas, warning that such actions risk undermining both religious freedom and national discourse.

The exchange underscores deepening divisions within Zanu PF, where the proposed constitutional amendments have sparked both support and resistance across party structures.

While Mliswa maintains the bill reflects a collective party position endorsed by key organs, Mathibela urged political actors to prioritise constitutional principles and national interest over factional disputes.

The unfolding debate highlights the increasingly complex dynamics within Zimbabwe's ruling party as it navigates contentious constitutional reforms.
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