PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa last week played the ball firmly
into Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s court after politically emasculating
him and sidelining his key lieutenants in his cabinet appointments, leaving his
ambitious deputy weak, vulnerable, and grounded.
Insiders say Mnangagwa is also making further moves to
control the security sector — which is critical in Zanu PF and state power
matrix — to further weaken Chiwenga, who ironically helped him assume power
after the military ousted former president Robert Mugabe in a coup in November
last year.
Chiwenga, who was commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces
when the coup occurred, was rewarded with the deputy presidency in the
post-coup government.
He also demanded oversight over defence and war veterans,
which he got as the kingmaker. Relations between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga,
however, deteriorated rapidly after the coup as they quarrelled over the
transition, key government and Zanu PF appointments, and succession; how many
terms of office should Mnangagwa serve.
Mnangagwa had initially appointed Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri
as one of his deputies, but the military demanded that the position be given to
Chiwenga, who also insisted on being in charge of defence and war veterans.
Mnangagwa also wanted to appoint war veteran Victor Matemadanda — whom he has
now deployed as Muchinguri-Kashiri’s deputy at defence — as Zanu PF’s national
commissar, but the military demanded that one of the senior commanders secure
the post, resulting in Retired Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje’s
appointment.
Relations further deteriorated after an explosion occurred
soon after Mnangagwa left the stage following his address at White City Stadium
in Bulawayo in June.
Mnangagwa’s supporters believe he was the target of the
grenade attack by his internal rivals. In briefings this week, government
officials revealed Mnangagwa had taken a bold decision to emasculate Chiwenga,
whom they said had not hidden his ambition to succeed him in 2023.
“The first move was to take away key ministries from him
and his associates. So he took away the Defence and War Veterans ministry from
Chiwenga in a bid to weaken his grip on the military. By so doing, he has
removed him from Defence House and KGV1 (now known as Josiah Magama Tongogara
Barracks),” said a senior government official.
“Chiwenga understood the importance of the military, hence
he had physically and symbolically remained at Defence House while serving as
vice-president.
“Mnangagwa also killed two birds with one stone because
Chiwenga’s removal as Minister of Defence also enabled him to address the
unconstitutionality of Chiwenga’s appointment as it was in violation of section
215 of the Constitution which states that the President must appoint a minister
to superintend over the Defence Forces.”
Mnangagwa placed the Central Intelligence Organisation
(CIO) directly under his personal control.
Chiwenga’s allies, real or imagined, were booted out or
left out of the cabinet. Some ministers linked to Chiwenga like Supa
Mandiwanzira — whom insiders say is actually neutral — were removed.
Although Mnangagwa appointed some technocrats headlined by
Finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, he also rewarded his loyalists with
key positions to cushion himself. These include Muchinguri-Kashiri, who took
over the Defence ministry from Chiwenga, his confidante July Moyo (Local
Government), Joram Gumbo (Energy), Biggie Matiza (Transport), Monica Mutsvangwa
(Information), Prisca Mupfumira (Environmnet) and Ziyambi Ziyambi (Justice). He
also rewarded loyalists such as Victor Matemadanda, Lovemore Matuke, Energy
Mutodi and Michael Madiro with deputy ministerial positions, among others.
Despite being weakened, Chiwenga is still regarded as a
major force as he still has deep roots and influence in the military.
“He was ZDF commander from December 2003 to December 2017,
which is a very long time. Most of the serving senior military officers,
including colonels, brigadier-generals, and major-generals, were recommended
for promotion by him and still have allegiance to him,” said an official.
Zimbabwe Independent
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