News / National
Tagwirei emerging from the shadows to succeed Mnangagwa?
5 hrs ago | Views
On Wednesday evening, wearing full military gear and speaking from an unknown location, Zimbabwean war veteran Blessed Geza announced via live video that ‘they' were planning to impeach President Emmerson Mnangagwa due to ill health.
His video statement, then posted on YouTube and X platforms, also spoke of business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, calling him and his cronies corrupt.
The message was broadcast just days after the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Harare Province recommended the co-option of Tagwirei, an ally of Mnangagwa, to the Central Committee pending approval from Secretary-General Obert Mpofu.
Sources inside ZANU-PF say that Mnangagwa's allies made their first move on 31 March to replace Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Consisting of 230 members, the ZANU-PF's Central Committee acts on behalf of Congress when it is not in session and implements all resolutions and directives enunciated by Congress.
"It is clear Tagwirei is finally leaving the shadows of the deep state and jumping into the arena, possibly to throw in his hat to succeed Mnangagwa," Abel Kapodogo, a political analyst, tells The Africa Report.
Chiwenga and Mnangagwa are in a fierce succession battle as the president's allies want to extend his term beyond 2028 by at least two years. At the time of the 2017 coup, Chiwenga was initially promised the top job after Mnangagwa completed one term.
Protest milestone
On the same day as the Central Committee actions, Geza, a Chiwenga backer, led anti-corruption protests against the Mnangagwa-led government. He managed to shut down Harare and other cities, piling pressure on Mnangagwa to resign.
The citizens no longer care about the democratic credentials or lack thereof of the messiah as long as they can get a new face in the political cockpit
Businessman and ZANU-PF funder Tagwirei was slapped with sanctions by the US, along with his wife; Mnangagwa and his wife, and Chiwenga; and others. Protesters took to the streets of Harare to barricade roads while singing songs against the 2030 Agenda, a game plan to keep the current president in power for the next five years. Police fired tear gas canisters and used water cannons to disperse the peaceful protesters.
Some 107 people were arrested on 31 March and charged with participating in violent and unsanctioned demonstrations, according to the police. Admire Mare, an associate professor at the University of Johannesburg, says the protests showed that Zimbabweans are yearning for a political messiah.
"The citizens no longer care about the democratic credentials or lack thereof of the messiah as long as they can get a new face in the political cockpit," he says.
This is the first time Zimbabweans have protested en masse since January 2019, when those who hit the streets were shot and injured by live ammunition by the police and the military, and several women were raped.
"[The action] is a significant milestone in the evolution of protest culture in the country," he adds.
Tagwirei as replacement for Chiwenga?
A plan to extend Mnangagwa's term is about ring-fencing the interests of a certain faction within ZANU-PF, says Mare. "Whether it is going to succeed or not depends on the balance of forces within the party."
Chiwenga, who has since been weakened by Mnangagwa, is likely to fight to the end to keep his seat.
It is not clear if other ZANU-PF bigwigs like spokesperson Christopher Mustvangwa will stand by and watch as Tagwirei ascends the throne. Speaking at a press conference at ZANU-PF headquarters in Harare on 1 April, Mutsvangwa said it is beneficial to have business moguls identified with the ruling party.
"To have Tagwirei in the ZANU-PF Harare Province is a noble thing. To have him to be part of the ZANU-PF leadership, his vast business experience will also enrich the proceedings of Harare province," he said.
"If I can draw allusions, we can see how [Elon] Musk, a senior adviser to [US President Donald] Trump and other businesspeople have enriched the second term of Trump."
Tagwirei, a presidential adviser, has been a key financier of the ruling party and, in return, he is given government tenders. In 2015, he was awarded Command Agriculture, a scheme to supply inputs to farmers worth millions of US dollars, bleeding the nation's finances with little commensurate benefit to the public.
Analyst Kapodogo says the protests may be the beginning of a season of discontent if the organisers can change tactics and press on.
Trying to sideline the military
A few days before the protests, Mnangagwa fired Anselem Sanyatwe, an ally of Chiwenga from command of the Zimbabwe National Army and posted him to the Sports Ministry to replace Kirsty Coventry, who was elected president of the International Olympic Committee last month.
Sanyatwe was replaced by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, a former Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), a military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), which participated in the liberation struggle. Matatu is aligned to Mnangagwa.
Mutsvangwa confirmed that Sanyatwe was removed from the army by Mnangagwa to prevent an insurrection by the military during the mass protests.
Surprisingly, the military did not participate in law enforcement following the deployment of the police by Zimbabwe Republic Police by Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba, an ally of Mnangagwa, across the country. The military has been cracking down on protesters since 2018, a role normally done by the police.
Kapodogo says Chiwenga has been manipulated. "The only avenue left for Chiwenga is a military solution like he did for Mnangagwa when he had been outsmarted politically in 2017," he says. "The other avenue is for the military to step in and rein in the factions to maintain the status quo until at least 2027 when the ZANU-PF Congress will be due."
Mare says if the current faction with levers of power continues to consolidate its political, military, cultural and economic power, then it can emerge victorious. "However, the Chiwenga faction is not giving up so easily. The fight for the ZANU-PF carcass is going to be a long-drawn struggle with winners and losers on both sides," he says.
But this route is difficult given that Mnangagwa captured the parliament just after the 2023 elections, including the remaining opposition lawmakers.
Blessed Mhlanga, a journalist who interviewed Geza when he accused Mnangagwa of massive corruption, demanding him to step down early this year, was arrested facing charges of inciting violence. The police have also launched a manhunt for Geza on allegations of inciting violence and undermining the office of the president, but they have yet to arrest him.
Understand Africa's tomorrow... today
We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.
His video statement, then posted on YouTube and X platforms, also spoke of business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, calling him and his cronies corrupt.
The message was broadcast just days after the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Harare Province recommended the co-option of Tagwirei, an ally of Mnangagwa, to the Central Committee pending approval from Secretary-General Obert Mpofu.
Sources inside ZANU-PF say that Mnangagwa's allies made their first move on 31 March to replace Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Consisting of 230 members, the ZANU-PF's Central Committee acts on behalf of Congress when it is not in session and implements all resolutions and directives enunciated by Congress.
"It is clear Tagwirei is finally leaving the shadows of the deep state and jumping into the arena, possibly to throw in his hat to succeed Mnangagwa," Abel Kapodogo, a political analyst, tells The Africa Report.
Chiwenga and Mnangagwa are in a fierce succession battle as the president's allies want to extend his term beyond 2028 by at least two years. At the time of the 2017 coup, Chiwenga was initially promised the top job after Mnangagwa completed one term.
Protest milestone
On the same day as the Central Committee actions, Geza, a Chiwenga backer, led anti-corruption protests against the Mnangagwa-led government. He managed to shut down Harare and other cities, piling pressure on Mnangagwa to resign.
The citizens no longer care about the democratic credentials or lack thereof of the messiah as long as they can get a new face in the political cockpit
Businessman and ZANU-PF funder Tagwirei was slapped with sanctions by the US, along with his wife; Mnangagwa and his wife, and Chiwenga; and others. Protesters took to the streets of Harare to barricade roads while singing songs against the 2030 Agenda, a game plan to keep the current president in power for the next five years. Police fired tear gas canisters and used water cannons to disperse the peaceful protesters.
Some 107 people were arrested on 31 March and charged with participating in violent and unsanctioned demonstrations, according to the police. Admire Mare, an associate professor at the University of Johannesburg, says the protests showed that Zimbabweans are yearning for a political messiah.
"The citizens no longer care about the democratic credentials or lack thereof of the messiah as long as they can get a new face in the political cockpit," he says.
This is the first time Zimbabweans have protested en masse since January 2019, when those who hit the streets were shot and injured by live ammunition by the police and the military, and several women were raped.
"[The action] is a significant milestone in the evolution of protest culture in the country," he adds.
Tagwirei as replacement for Chiwenga?
A plan to extend Mnangagwa's term is about ring-fencing the interests of a certain faction within ZANU-PF, says Mare. "Whether it is going to succeed or not depends on the balance of forces within the party."
Chiwenga, who has since been weakened by Mnangagwa, is likely to fight to the end to keep his seat.
It is not clear if other ZANU-PF bigwigs like spokesperson Christopher Mustvangwa will stand by and watch as Tagwirei ascends the throne. Speaking at a press conference at ZANU-PF headquarters in Harare on 1 April, Mutsvangwa said it is beneficial to have business moguls identified with the ruling party.
"To have Tagwirei in the ZANU-PF Harare Province is a noble thing. To have him to be part of the ZANU-PF leadership, his vast business experience will also enrich the proceedings of Harare province," he said.
"If I can draw allusions, we can see how [Elon] Musk, a senior adviser to [US President Donald] Trump and other businesspeople have enriched the second term of Trump."
Tagwirei, a presidential adviser, has been a key financier of the ruling party and, in return, he is given government tenders. In 2015, he was awarded Command Agriculture, a scheme to supply inputs to farmers worth millions of US dollars, bleeding the nation's finances with little commensurate benefit to the public.
Analyst Kapodogo says the protests may be the beginning of a season of discontent if the organisers can change tactics and press on.
Trying to sideline the military
A few days before the protests, Mnangagwa fired Anselem Sanyatwe, an ally of Chiwenga from command of the Zimbabwe National Army and posted him to the Sports Ministry to replace Kirsty Coventry, who was elected president of the International Olympic Committee last month.
Sanyatwe was replaced by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, a former Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), a military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), which participated in the liberation struggle. Matatu is aligned to Mnangagwa.
Mutsvangwa confirmed that Sanyatwe was removed from the army by Mnangagwa to prevent an insurrection by the military during the mass protests.
Surprisingly, the military did not participate in law enforcement following the deployment of the police by Zimbabwe Republic Police by Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba, an ally of Mnangagwa, across the country. The military has been cracking down on protesters since 2018, a role normally done by the police.
Kapodogo says Chiwenga has been manipulated. "The only avenue left for Chiwenga is a military solution like he did for Mnangagwa when he had been outsmarted politically in 2017," he says. "The other avenue is for the military to step in and rein in the factions to maintain the status quo until at least 2027 when the ZANU-PF Congress will be due."
Mare says if the current faction with levers of power continues to consolidate its political, military, cultural and economic power, then it can emerge victorious. "However, the Chiwenga faction is not giving up so easily. The fight for the ZANU-PF carcass is going to be a long-drawn struggle with winners and losers on both sides," he says.
But this route is difficult given that Mnangagwa captured the parliament just after the 2023 elections, including the remaining opposition lawmakers.
Blessed Mhlanga, a journalist who interviewed Geza when he accused Mnangagwa of massive corruption, demanding him to step down early this year, was arrested facing charges of inciting violence. The police have also launched a manhunt for Geza on allegations of inciting violence and undermining the office of the president, but they have yet to arrest him.
Understand Africa's tomorrow... today
We believe that Africa is poorly represented, and badly under-estimated. Beyond the vast opportunity manifest in African markets, we highlight people who make a difference; leaders turning the tide, youth driving change, and an indefatigable business community. That is what we believe will change the continent, and that is what we report on. With hard-hitting investigations, innovative analysis and deep dives into countries and sectors, The Africa Report delivers the insight you need.
Source - theafricareport
