VICE-President Constantino Chiwenga, currently recovering
at a top hospital in China, where he underwent two operations to clear his
blocked oesophagus, amid poisoning fears, last month dismissed security
officials attached to him fearing they were spying on him and giving his
political rivals information on his recovery bid.
Chiwenga, who swopped his military fatigues for political
office after leading a military coup which toppled former president Robert
Mugabe in 2017, leading to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rise to the seat of
power, dismissed all security aides from the Central Intelligence Organisation
attached to him.
“He remained with two security aides by the name Ncube and
Kadengu, who are from the military,” a state security official revealed.
The Zimbabwe Independent’s security sources said Chiwenga
did not feel secure under the watch of CIO operatives he was not close to.
“Besides, he also believed they were giving updates to his
political rivals, including Mnangagwa about his progress,” an official said.
Chiwenga was airlifted to Beijing from South Africa in July
at a time he was wasted, bed-ridden and in critical condition. He was rushed to
hospital on landing, where he was admitted in the intensive care unit of a
state-of-the-art hospital in a high security area, before being moved to a
private ward.
The former army general underwent a major operation to clear
part of his oesophagus in August, before undergoing another operation last
month.
The oesophagus is a muscular tube which connects the mouth
to the stomach. When swallowing food, the walls of the oesophagus contract,
enabling food to move to the stomach. Because of the blockage, officials
revealed, Chiwenga was unable to eat, resulting in him becoming emaciated due
to illness and lack of food.
Family sources say Chiwenga is recovering and is now able
to walk. He has also gained weight and is weighing around 80 kilograms having
been flown to China when he was weighing 50kgs.
Chiwenga is expected to remain in China for several months.
He is surrounded by several family members, including his son, although his
wife Mary is in Zimbabwe.
Chiwenga’s close associates say he was poisoned by his
political rivals, although the vice-president has not revealed the cause of his
ailment.
Zanu PF insiders told the Independent in August that
Chiwenga’s health woes have ignited frenzied jostling for his seat, with Zanu
PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri emerging as the front-runner.
At the time many Zanu PF officials were convinced the former military general
would not survive.
Although Mnangagwa and Chiwenga were allies ahead of the
coup, they fell out soon after Mnangagwa assumed the reins as they battled to
control heart and soul of Zanu PF.
Before last year’s elections, Mnangagwa publicly spoke
about an inside plot to impeach him.Mnangagwa also spoke about an attempted
assassination after an explosion at a rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo
which killed two security aides and injured many other people in June 2018.
Insiders say initially, the coup deal was that Mnangagwa
would come in as a civilian face and serve one term and go, leaving power to
Chiwenga.
However, Mnangagwa’s repeated talk of two terms soon after
assuming power widened the rift between the two.
Soon after the coup, differences between the two also
emerged around several issues including the transitional arrangement, critical
appointments, and dismissals, especially in the security sector, business deals
and the direction of the administration.
Mnangagwa preferred to appoint Oppah Muchinguri as
vice-president but Chiwenga insisted that the job should be given to him. He
also seized the responsibilities of defence and war veterans from
co-vice-president Kembo Mohadi, while Mnangagwa took security amid fears his
deputy would become too powerful.
Mnangagwa also preferred to appoint war veteran Victor
Matemadanda as political commissar but the army insisted that the job be given
to Major General Engelbert Rugeje – one of those that traded military fatigues
for civilian suits. Zimbabwe Independent
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