Mutsvangwa slams Chiwenga over remarks

ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa has launched a sharp attack on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, accusing him of using criticism of Zimbabwe's wealthy elite as a political tool in his reported bid to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Speaking at a press conference at ZANU PF headquarters on Thursday, Mutsvangwa took issue with Chiwenga's repeated use of the term *zvigananda*, a word that has become associated with a group of controversial businessmen and politically connected entrepreneurs accused by critics of benefiting from state contracts and access to public resources.

Mutsvangwa traced the origins of the term to Marxist class analysis, arguing that it was historically used to describe the petty bourgeoisie rather than as a political weapon.

"The name Zvigananda generally refers to what is called the petty-bourgeoisie. In Marxist class analysis people are placed in classes and there is a class struggle between one class and the other; the workers, the peasants, the middle class and the super rich," he said.

"The petty-bourgeoisie was translated to Zvigananda. Now, because people were ambitious for power in the 1976 Vashandi Rebellion, they started labelling someone as a Chigananda in the war."

Mutsvangwa said the term had been misused during the liberation struggle as part of factional battles for influence and warned against deploying it for contemporary political purposes.

"Behind it was an attempt to grab power. If you start labelling other people then out of that you say this should happen to them, it is not right," he said.

Chiwenga first popularised the term at a rally last year when he appeared to target a group of politically connected businessmen, including Wicknell Chivayo, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya and Paul Tungwarara.

The businessmen have faced allegations from critics that they have used their proximity to political power to influence state institutions and secure lucrative government opportunities. They deny wrongdoing.

The vice president's remarks have been widely interpreted as part of an escalating struggle for influence within the ruling party ahead of an eventual succession battle.

Mutsvangwa defended wealth creation and argued that economic advancement by black Zimbabweans should not be viewed negatively.

"There is nothing wrong about acquiring property, about having a middle class," he said.

"You abuse that term now and want to use it for political purposes because you have ambitions … that is not the way to go.

"If a black man makes money, there is a problem, but Indians and white people can make as much as they want?"

He added that Zimbabwe deserved responsible political leadership, particularly from veterans of the liberation struggle.

"Zimbabweans deserve better in terms of political leadership, especially leadership that went to war. We need to conduct ourselves in the correct manner," Mutsvangwa said.

The comments come amid growing speculation over succession dynamics within ZANU PF and allegations that business interests aligned to powerful political figures are backing the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3).

Critics of the proposed amendments claim the legislation could reshape the political landscape and influence future leadership contests within the ruling party. Supporters, however, argue the reforms are necessary for governance and constitutional alignment.

With CAB3 appearing likely to pass Parliament, attention is increasingly turning to how Chiwenga and his supporters may respond to what many analysts view as a significant shift in the balance of power within ZANU PF.