Harare, Zimbabwe — In a rare and dramatic display of internal party warfare, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has directly challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his inner circle of loyalists, known derisively within political circles as ‘Zvigananda’. The remarks, captured in a video circulating widely across Zimbabwe, mark the most open rupture yet in a ruling ZANU-PF party that has prided itself on public unity even as factional battles have raged behind closed doors.
The video, originally broadcast by a local news outlet and now spreading on social media, shows Chiwenga speaking at an undisclosed event. He accuses ‘Zvigananda’ — a Shona term loosely translated as ‘parasites’ or ‘leeches’ — of undermining party discipline and of enriching themselves at the expense of ordinary Zimbabweans. In a pointed jab at Mnangagwa himself, Chiwenga warns that no leader is above the party constitution and that ‘those who forget where they came from will soon find themselves with nowhere to go’.
Inside the Factional War
Chiwenga’s attack is not a spontaneous outburst but the culmination of months of quiet maneuvering. The Vice President, a former army general who led the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, has long been seen as Mnangagwa’s most formidable rival. Sources close to Chiwenga claim that the President’s inner circle — particularly ‘Zvigananda’ figures such as Information Minister Jenfan Muswere and party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa — have been sidelining Chiwenga’s allies in party appointments and state tenders.
‘This is a clear signal that Chiwenga believes his political survival is at stake,’ said Dr. Nyasha Kanyangarara, a Harare-based political analyst. ‘By going public, he is forcing Mnangagwa to either rein in his loyalists or risk a complete party split. The reference to “not forgetting where you came from” is a loaded historical reminder that Mnangagwa only became president because Chiwenga’s military intervened.’
The term ‘Zvigananda’ itself has become a flashpoint. Originally coined by critics of the regime to describe sycophantic officials who sponge off state resources, it has now been weaponized by Chiwenga to rally support within the party’s war veterans’ and military wings. Those factions remember Mugabe’s fall and remain wary of any leader who ignores the security establishment that installed him.
Regional and Geopolitical Stakes
The fallout from ZANU-PF’s power struggle extends well beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. Southern Africa’s other ruling parties — including South Africa’s ANC, Namibia’s SWAPO, and Mozambique’s FRELIMO — watch Harare closely as a bellwether for liberation-movement-turned-dynasty transitions. A messy split in Zimbabwe’s ruling party could embolden opposition movements across Sadc.
‘If ZANU-PF fractures, the reverberations will be felt in Lusaka, Pretoria, and Maputo,’ said Dr. Thabo Mbeki Jr., a political risk analyst at the University of Johannesburg. ‘Many of these parties face similar generational tensions: aging liberation stalwarts versus younger, ambitious figures. A Chiwenga-instigated implosion could accelerate internal revolts elsewhere.’
China, Zimbabwe’s largest bilateral lender and investor, is also watching nervously. Beijing has staked billions on Mnangagwa’s stability, funding infrastructure projects including the Hwange power station expansion and the Beitbridge-Harare highway. Any sign of political paralysis threatens to delay repayments and scare off further investment. The United States and the European Union, which maintain targeted sanctions on Mnangagwa and his inner circle, may see an opportunity to press for reforms if Chiwenga emerges victorious — but only if he presents a less authoritarian alternative.
The Unanswered Questions
It remains unclear whether Chiwenga’s remarks were sanctioned by party structures or amount to a direct act of insubordination. ZANU-PF’s constitution forbids any public criticism of the President by a Vice President, but enforcement has been selective. Mnangagwa’s office has not officially responded to the video, though party loyalists have taken to social media to dismiss Chiwenga’s comments as ‘mischief by unknown elements’.
What is clear is that the video has electrified a population weary of political drama without tangible change. In townships across Harare and Bulawayo, the clip is being shared with a mixture of hope and cynicism. ‘Chiwenga is just as corrupt as the rest,’ said Tafadzwa Moyo, a street vendor in Mbare. ‘But at least he’s willing to say what everyone knows — that the people around Mnangagwa are eating the country dry.’
For now, the ZANU-PF politburo meets next week. Whether Chiwenga will attend or face disciplinary action is the subject of intense speculation. One thing is certain: the gloves are off, and Zimbabwe’s power struggle has entered a dangerous new phase.
