By IDT
Opinion – The recent public clashes between supporters of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at Heroes Acre are not a fluke.
They are a stark reminder of the deep-seated fissures within Zanu PF.
These divisions, fuelled by corruption, greed, and a bitter succession dispute, bear an uncanny resemblance to the events that led to the ouster of former president, Robert Mugabe, in 2017.
History, it seems, is poised to repeat itself unless cooler heads prevail.
The scene at Heroes Acre, where Mnangagwa loyalists and Chiwenga supporters traded verbal salvos, underscores the escalating tensions within the ruling party.
Chiwenga’s thinly veiled denunciation of corruption during his speech—where he condemned “mbinga” (corrupt tenderpreneurs) and “zvigananda” (leeches)—was a direct jab at Mnangagwa’s inner circle and, indirectly, an attack on his own boss.
Interestingly, when Mnangagwa rose to power, his allies, Chiwenga among them, claimed that Mugabe was surrounded by criminals who were looting the nation’s resources for self-enrichment, ironically the incumbent now seems to be also surrounded by criminals looting the nation’s resources for their own benefit.
Just days after Chiwenga’s rebuke of state-sponsored corruption, details emerged that Wicknell Chivayo, a controversial businessman with close ties to Mnangagwa, had secured a US$100 million tender from the Ministry of ICT.
This revelation, coupled with Chivayo’s audacious request to Ecobank to increase his monthly withdrawal limit to US$20 million each for his two briefcase companies, is a slap in the face to ordinary Zimbabweans grappling with foreign currency shortages and economic hardship.
Ironically Chivayo has been dolling out luxury vehicles like candy to Zanu PF apologists without the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) showing no political will to probe the sources of his seemingly lucrative income.
This is a glaring example of how the politically connected continue to enrich themselves while the nation bleeds.
The parallels to Mugabe’s downfall are impossible to ignore.
In 2017, it was the blatant looting by the G40 faction, led by Mugabe’s wife Grace, that galvanised the military and Zanu PF factions to unite against him.
Today, it is Mnangagwa’s allies, like Chivayo, who are accused of bleeding the nation dry.
The irony is palpable: Mnangagwa, who rode to power on an anti-corruption platform, now finds himself besieged by the very same allegations that doomed his predecessor.
Factionalism within Zanu PF is not just a threat to the ruling party’s unity, it is a ticking time bomb for the nation.
The succession dispute between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, if unresolved, could escalate into violence, potentially leading to another coup.
This is especially concerning at a time when the masses are already disgruntled by economic hardships, exacerbated by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s hefty taxes and never ceasing austerity measures.
The government’s failure to address these grievances, coupled with its apparent tolerance of corruption, is a recipe for unrest.
Saviour Kasukuwere’s reference to the current turmoil as “Mgagao Declaration 3” is apt.
Just as the Mgagao Declaration of 1975 and the 2017 coup were watershed moments in Zimbabwe’s history, the current factionalism could herald another seismic shift.
However, this time, the stakes are even higher.
The economy is in freefall, public trust in the government is at an all-time low, and the military—historically a kingmaker in Zimbabwean politics—is watching closely.
Otherwise, the events at Heroes Acre may be a prelude to a far more explosive confrontation—one that could plunge the nation into chaos once again.
The question is not whether Zimbabwe can afford another coup, but whether it can survive one.
The answer lies in the hands of its leaders.
Will they learn from history, or will they repeat its mistakes?
Only time will tell.
