Another Coup Loading? Chiwenga slams Chivhayo as war vets demand Mnangagwa resignation

Another Coup Loading? Chiwenga slams Chivhayo as war vets demand Mnangagwa resignation

By Political Correspondent and Agencies


ACTING President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday hit out at corrupt tenderpreneurs, known locally as Mbingas, at the same time disgruntled war veterans publicly demanded President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation.

Chiwenga’s remarks, made at the burial of a national hero in Harare, were seen as referring to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivhayo who is linked to President Mnangagwa and his family.

Chiwenga is acting head of state as Mnangagwa completes his annual leave.

“We all swore to a shared future in which everyone had a place on the table, a place in the sun, for a culture of equal opportunity where every Zimbabwean served in equal measure,” said Chiwenga during the burial of former top civil servant Justin Mupamhanga.

Zveubvanzu bvanzu kudya kwemhumi takazviramba. Our Vision 2030 is for all of us, kwete dzamunoti mbinga, kuhondo taizviti zvigananda, those who grow big tummies through ill-gotten wealth and questionable morals.”

Chivhayo, who has boasted about his close ties with Mnangagwa, has sparked anger over the source of his money as he spent millions donating posh cars to Zanu PF-aligned musicians.

Tensions in the ruling party were also evident at the national shrine during the burial as supporters of the rival Mnangagwa and Chiwenga factions chanted slogans and sang songs denigrating each other.

The developments come after war veterans, some of them members of Zanu PF’s central committee, called press conferences to demand Mnangagwa’s resignation.

Divisions in the party have deepened over moves by the pro-Mnangagwa group to extend his rule to 2030, beyond the Constitutional limit of two terms which end in 2028.

Speaking during a press briefing streamed online, liberation struggle veteran Blessed Runesu Geza said Mnangagwa must resign immediately.

“We are saying — as war veterans — enough is enough. You have shown that you have failed. It can’t get any worse,” he said in Shona at the press conference.

“Corruption has become a security threat because these people are being protected by Emmerson. So, as war veterans, including masses, we are being asked, ‘Why did you give us this kind of a person? We no longer like him.’ So, we are pleading with you: Leave peacefully. If you don’t, people will use the constitution for you to go.”

However, in an interview with VOA, Zanu-PF spokesman Farai Marapira dismissed calls for Mnangagwa to step down.

“The party position is clear; the party position is given to clear channels. So, we cannot dignify rogue rantings by responding to them,” Marapira said.

“People who speak their mind outside of the party, that’s part of democracy. But the position is clear: We had a conference, and that is what we will deal with, and that is what we work with, and anything else is just ranting.”

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