In a surprising move, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has removed his co-Vice-President, Constantino Chiwenga, from his ministerial post. This action is part of a recent cabinet reshuffle. Mnangagwa’s decision strengthens his hold on power, leaving Chiwenga in a difficult situation.
Chiwenga, the former commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, played a key role in bringing Mnangagwa to power through a coup in 2017. At that time, Chiwenga thought Mnangagwa would serve only one term and then hand over power. However, Mnangagwa has tightened his control over the presidency since the coup that removed the late president Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
The recent reshuffle has hurt Chiwenga’s plans. First, he was removed from his role as Defence and War Veterans minister. Now, he has lost all his important ministerial positions. These changes make it hard for him to gain power.
Mnangagwa’s rise to power involved removing many people from their positions. Some were moved to other roles, some lost their influence, and some even died. Chiwenga himself barely survived an illness that was suspected to be from poisoning. The dangers of the power struggle were clear during the June 2018 grenade attack in Bulawayo.
Mnangagwa saw Chiwenga as too ambitious. Unexpected events also helped Mnangagwa’s rise. Now, with Chiwenga’s ambitions crushed, his political future is uncertain. The big question is: What will Chiwenga do next?
Chiwenga has shown he has the ambition and ability to act. His role in the liberation struggle and the 2017 coup show he can make bold moves. But critics say without his former allies, his chances are slim.
A leaked 2010 report from Wikileaks gives insight into Chiwenga’s abilities. In talks with then United States ambassador to Harare Charles Ray, Zimbabwe’s Brigadier-General Herbert Chingono and Major-General Fidelis Satuku called Chiwenga a “political general” with limited military experience. They said he was more interested in politics and lacked deep military knowledge.
Despite these criticisms, Chiwenga pursued higher education. He earned a Master’s degree from the University of Zimbabwe and a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Some believe he had help with his studies.
The Wikileaks report predicted Chiwenga would enter politics but also pointed out his weaknesses. As Mnangagwa continues to outsmart him, it remains to be seen how this power struggle will end.
Chiwenga’s options are few. He could try to challenge Mnangagwa politically, but without his former support, success is not likely. He might fade from politics or seek to reconcile with Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe’s political scene is always changing. The struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga is ongoing. The country watches as this high-stakes drama plays out. The future of Zimbabwean politics is uncertain, and only time will tell what will happen in this intense power game.