Mavetera under fire for leading Chiwenga diss song

ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera is facing a firestorm of criticism after leading a controversial song that appeared to target Acting President General Constantino Chiwenga at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Monday. The song, which many have interpreted as a personal attack, has sparked tensions within the ruling Zanu-PF party, exposing deep divisions at a time when unity is desperately needed.

Mavetera, who is known for her leadership in the Young Women for ED group, was seen in the stands at the burial of national hero Justin Mupamhanga leading her supporters in a provocative chant. The lyrics, "mupanduki mupanduki nguva yakwana, chera mwena," which translates to "traitor, traitor, your time is up," seemed to directly accuse Chiwenga of betrayal.

The burial, which should have been a somber occasion honoring Zimbabwe's fallen heroes, instead became a stage for open Zanu-PF infighting. In one section of the stands, Mavetera's group, clad in pink Young Women For ED t-shirts, clashed with another group that appeared to be aligned with Chiwenga. As the two factions exchanged heated words, the rift within the party became painfully clear.

Adding fuel to the fire, Mavetera's supporters waved faux crocodiles—a symbol of loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwa—while chanting in her favor. On the other side, the pro-Chiwenga group responded with their own fervent songs of praise for the Acting President, chanting: "siyanai naye Chiwenga munovengerei," which means "leave Chiwenga alone, why do you hate him?"

The confrontation raised serious questions about the level of factionalism within Zanu-PF, especially considering the prominent location of the incident. Ntokozo Msipha, Secretary-General of the General Chiwenga Voluntary Supporters Association, expressed his outrage, accusing Mavetera of crossing the line.

In a statement released Tuesday morning, Msipha condemned Mavetera's actions, declaring: "Hon Minister, you have crossed the line. This must never happen again. Let this statement serve as a final warning. Discipline, respect, and loyalty are the cornerstones of leadership. Those who fail to uphold them will find themselves on the wrong side of history."

The confrontation also echoes recent comments by Chiwenga during the burial of other national heroes, where he described disrespect as a "mortal sin," further fueling the sense of a major breach in party decorum.

Clive Malunga, a prominent critic of the Mnangagwa 2030 agenda and a veteran of the liberation struggle, weighed in on the incident, calling Mavetera "a disrespectful and Mnangagwa bootlicker" who has neglected her official duties in favor of appeasing the President. He criticized her for her focus on personal political gain rather than addressing the country's pressing issues.

Political analyst Lazurus Sauti, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, added his voice to the criticism, stating that the current Zanu-PF government is made up of ministers who are "not chosen based on merit." Sauti pointed out that Mavetera, instead of fulfilling her role in promoting ICT policies, was more interested in engaging in factional politics at a national shrine.

Efforts to reach Mavetera for comment were unsuccessful, with her phone going unanswered.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF spokesperson Farai Marapira attempted to distance the party from Mavetera's actions, stating: "Young Women for ED is an affiliate of the party Zanu-PF and it is an independent juristic person. Therefore, it has its own structures that speak and defend on its own behalf. I speak on behalf of the party."

The incident has sent shockwaves through social media, with many Zimbabweans reacting with fury and disbelief. The clash at the National Heroes Acre has revealed just how deep the fault lines are within Zanu-PF, and many are now wondering how the ruling party will handle the growing tensions as rival factions continue to vie for control.

Some commentators have even suggested that Mavetera may soon find herself on the wrong side of history, with comparisons being drawn to former Zanu-PF officials like Jonathan Moyo, who fled the country after the 2017 Operation Restore Legacy ousted President Robert Mugabe. This comparison has sparked further speculation about the future of the minister and the fate of Zanu-PF's infighting.

As the dust settles from the shocking scenes at the National Heroes Acre, all eyes will be on the Zanu-PF leadership to see how it responds to the latest in a series of factional skirmishes threatening to tear the party apart.