Zim GBC News | Political Correspondent
BULAWAYO – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s faction is reeling from a significant political defeat following the just-ended Zanu-PF National People’s Conference, with a political analyst stating it would take an “extraordinary strategy” or a “miracle” for him to revive his Presidential ambitions.
The conference, held in Mutare, was preceded by a tense Politburo meeting where battle lines were sharply drawn. Zanu PF’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, delivered a strongly worded rebuttal to sentiments attributed to Chiwenga’s camp, which had complained about the party’s alleged capture by a clique.
This set the stage for a gathering that decisively backed President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The major blow to Chiwenga’s succession hopes came when delegates resolved to initiate a constitutional amendment to extend President Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond 2028.
A Bulawayo based political analyst weighed in on the VP’s diminished prospects, noting his public silence on the matter.
“The tragedy is that Chiwenga himself has not said he has any interest in succeeding Emmerson Mnangagwa. There are people talking on his behalf… but Chiwenga has not publicly expressed interest in higher office,” The analyst said.
The analyst drew a parallel to Mnangagwa’s own rise to power, stating,
“During the turbulence at the end of Robert Mugabe’s rule, Mnangagwa never openly declared his ambitions… He kept quiet and did most of his machinations behind the scenes. So we might be hearing a lot of noise about the Chiwenga faction, but we do not know what is happening in the background.”
However, the analyst was skeptical about a Chiwenga recovery, concluding,
“His silence says a lot… But from where I stand, given the mandate and legitimacy Mnangagwa enjoys within Zanu PF, it would take a miracle for Chiwenga to recover from this.”
The proposed constitutional amendment faces significant legal hurdles, including sections 91(2) and 328(7), which limit presidential terms and prevent an incumbent from benefiting from amendments made during their tenure.
Ngwenya also dismissed the credibility of a leaked dossier, allegedly linked to Chiwenga, which claimed Zanu PF plans to use a “Breaking Barriers Initiative” (BBI) to suspend elections.
“BBI is moribund because it tinkers with the illusion that you can simply change the constitution to achieve anything… It is naïve to assume that if this matter goes to Parliament, it would automatically pass. BBI is just an academic document,” the analyst said.
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