A secret recording caught ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa badmouthing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. He called him cruel, impossible to elect, and poorly educated, even claiming Chiwenga "has failed to grasp the difference between letters R and L." The UK group Dug Up released this audio as part of their latest investigation, showing growing fights between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.
Chiwenga, a former army general who helped remove President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, became very popular in Zimbabwe. His desire to become president has put him against former friends, including Mutsvangwa and Mnangagwa. Their main disagreement focuses on the upcoming Zanu PF party meeting, where Chiwenga apparently wants automatic approval as the party's first secretary and President.
Chiwenga seeks direct appointment rather than facing competition, but Mnangagwa insists he should prove his popularity against other candidates who might want to lead the party in 2028. In the recording, Mutsvangwa says, "This guy wants to be anointed as the President's successor. He wants to remove him, but during that process, he says the President should anoint him. How do you do that?"
Mutsvangwa points out that under Mugabe, deputies were simply chosen, but Mnangagwa believes in elections as "normal for a democratic party." If Mnangagwa did endorse Chiwenga, it would basically crush any real competition against him. All these plans assume Mnangagwa doesn't try to stay beyond his 2028 term limit, which some party members have suggested he should.
According to Mutsvangwa, one big problem for Chiwenga's leadership ambitions involves his treatment of his ex-wife, Marry Mubaiwa. She suffers from serious lymphoedema, has lost some limbs, and faces accusations of trying to kill the former army commander. For over three years, she's gone through court battles, can't use her passport, and cannot leave for the medical care she desperately needs.
Mutsvangwa added harsh criticism: "Can you imagine, half of the electorate are women in this country, and you have decapitated the limbs of your former wife through cruelty, and you are refusing her to see the children, including the ones she came to you with." He claims when the President tries to pardon her, Chiwenga blocks it, adding that his cruelty toward women makes him unelectable.
Stories have circulated about an unofficial agreement between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, under which the vice president would take power after the current president. This plan reportedly hit problems in 2023 but might resurface as 2028 approaches. Mutsvangwa, an educated diplomat, clearly looks down on Chiwenga in the recording, mocking his education level and party experience.
He says, "If you want to know that a Shona-speaking person did not go to school, ask that they pronounce the letter L." Mutsvangwa explains that the pronunciation difference between R and L shows education level, claiming Chiwenga "never managed to graduate from the mother's alphabet." He finishes by saying military service doesn't make up for poor education, noting, "We went to war from universities." The complete investigation by journalist Maynard Manyowa can be found on YouTube.
Chiwenga, a former army general who helped remove President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, became very popular in Zimbabwe. His desire to become president has put him against former friends, including Mutsvangwa and Mnangagwa. Their main disagreement focuses on the upcoming Zanu PF party meeting, where Chiwenga apparently wants automatic approval as the party's first secretary and President.
Chiwenga seeks direct appointment rather than facing competition, but Mnangagwa insists he should prove his popularity against other candidates who might want to lead the party in 2028. In the recording, Mutsvangwa says, "This guy wants to be anointed as the President's successor. He wants to remove him, but during that process, he says the President should anoint him. How do you do that?"
Mutsvangwa points out that under Mugabe, deputies were simply chosen, but Mnangagwa believes in elections as "normal for a democratic party." If Mnangagwa did endorse Chiwenga, it would basically crush any real competition against him. All these plans assume Mnangagwa doesn't try to stay beyond his 2028 term limit, which some party members have suggested he should.
According to Mutsvangwa, one big problem for Chiwenga's leadership ambitions involves his treatment of his ex-wife, Marry Mubaiwa. She suffers from serious lymphoedema, has lost some limbs, and faces accusations of trying to kill the former army commander. For over three years, she's gone through court battles, can't use her passport, and cannot leave for the medical care she desperately needs.
Mutsvangwa added harsh criticism: "Can you imagine, half of the electorate are women in this country, and you have decapitated the limbs of your former wife through cruelty, and you are refusing her to see the children, including the ones she came to you with." He claims when the President tries to pardon her, Chiwenga blocks it, adding that his cruelty toward women makes him unelectable.
Stories have circulated about an unofficial agreement between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, under which the vice president would take power after the current president. This plan reportedly hit problems in 2023 but might resurface as 2028 approaches. Mutsvangwa, an educated diplomat, clearly looks down on Chiwenga in the recording, mocking his education level and party experience.
He says, "If you want to know that a Shona-speaking person did not go to school, ask that they pronounce the letter L." Mutsvangwa explains that the pronunciation difference between R and L shows education level, claiming Chiwenga "never managed to graduate from the mother's alphabet." He finishes by saying military service doesn't make up for poor education, noting, "We went to war from universities." The complete investigation by journalist Maynard Manyowa can be found on YouTube.
