Chiwenga in calculated pushback, slams Mnangagwa regime?

As promised, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has used his stint as Acting President in January 2025 to launch a scathing offensive against corruption, tenderpreneurship, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa's allies, escalating the growing tensions within Zanu-PF.

Chiwenga's fiery remarks and decisive actions have reignited speculation about the deepening factional rift within the ruling party. Sources close to the Vice President say he is furious about Mnangagwa's third-term bid and the behavior of his allies, whom Chiwenga accuses of acting as though Zimbabwe is their personal property.

During two high-profile national burials at the National Heroes Acre in Harare - first for Chen Chimutengwende, Solomon Siziba, and John Mvundura, and then for Justin Mupamhanga - Chiwenga delivered blistering critiques of corruption and tenderpreneurs, or mbingas.

"Our Vision 2030 is for all of us, not for those you call mbinga," Chiwenga declared at Mupamhanga's burial. "We reject reckless, tearing apart, and chaotic looting like wild dogs (zveubvanzu bvanzu kudya kwemhumhi). Those who grow big tummies through ill-gotten wealth and questionable morals - zvigananda - will be dealt with severely."

The Vice President condemned the so-called "our time to eat" mentality that has allegedly permeated Mnangagwa's administration, singling out politically connected figures like Wicknell Chivayo, a tenderpreneur linked to lucrative and controversial government contracts, including the US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) deal.

Chiwenga labeled these individuals as "parasites" and "leeches," warning that their corruption has become a societal cancer and a national security threat.

Adding weight to Chiwenga's attack, war veterans over the weekend voiced sharp criticism of Mnangagwa, accusing him of reducing Zimbabwe to a "chaotic mess" through dictatorship, cronyism, nepotism, corruption, and incompetence.

The war veterans - often seen as a proxy for the military and a key faction within Zanu-PF - called for Mnangagwa's removal, comparing the current situation to the conditions that led to the ouster of the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

"Mnangagwa has failed," said one war veteran. "He has turned the state into a playground for his clan and cronies, primarily from Midlands and Masvingo, who act as if they own the country like a personal farm. This Ceaușescu-style dictatorship must end."

A high-profile ally of Chiwenga told The NewsHawks that the Acting President is using his brief time in charge to send a clear message.

"Chiwenga is furious about the corruption, state capture, and Mnangagwa's third-term ambitions. He is pushing back, warning that the situation has become a national security threat. He is doing what we said he would - taking a stand and acting against Mnangagwa's allies."

The ally added that Chiwenga's escalating criticism reflects growing frustration within the military-backed faction of Zanu-PF. "The war veterans are speaking his mind. This is a coordinated push to save the party and the country from further disaster."

The unfolding events underscore the intensifying power struggle within Zanu-PF as Mnangagwa seeks a controversial third term, despite the constitutional two-term limit. Chiwenga's pointed remarks and the war veterans' open criticism signal a possible repeat of the 2017 scenario when military and party factions united to oust Mugabe.

Observers say Chiwenga's direct challenge to Mnangagwa could set the stage for a dramatic showdown within the party, as factional rivalries threaten to destabilize the already fragile political landscape.

As Zimbabwe watches closely, the Vice President's bold actions during his brief tenure as Acting President suggest that the battle for control of Zanu-PF - and the nation's future - is far from over.