The Standard reported that a team in Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party tried to kick Vice President Constantino Chiwenga out of his job. The Sunday paper said big fights inside the party stopped this plan. These battles show growing problems as different groups want control before the 2028 elections.
Chiwenga helped bring President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power during a 2017 military action. He seems to have hopes of becoming president himself. This makes many party leaders nervous, especially after Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi talked about Mnangagwa staying president until 2030.
The Standard claims some party members see Chiwenga as dangerous to their plans. They want to push him aside through changes in party jobs and government roles. These people want ruling party money man Kudakwashe Tagwirei to replace him. People who talked to the paper said plans already exist to move Tagwirei into a powerful position.
A big meeting was planned to talk about changing leaders. But the plan hit roadblocks from Chiwenga supporters in the military and party. Recent changes in government jobs put Chiwenga in charge of Health Ministry tasks besides his Vice President work. Experts think this aims to cut his power.
Political experts say these events show deep splits in Zanu PF. Nobody knows for sure who will lead the party next. One expert who asked to stay unnamed said, "This battle has just started. Chiwenga has many friends in the military. Pushing him out will be hard."
Opposition groups jumped on news about these internal fights. They say Zanu PF leaders care more about power games than fixing Zimbabwe's money problems. With protests set for March 31, The Standard warns that these party fights might hurt the whole country's stability.
When reporters asked Chiwenga's office and top Zanu PF officials about these claims, nobody answered before the story went to print.
Chiwenga helped bring President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power during a 2017 military action. He seems to have hopes of becoming president himself. This makes many party leaders nervous, especially after Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi talked about Mnangagwa staying president until 2030.
The Standard claims some party members see Chiwenga as dangerous to their plans. They want to push him aside through changes in party jobs and government roles. These people want ruling party money man Kudakwashe Tagwirei to replace him. People who talked to the paper said plans already exist to move Tagwirei into a powerful position.
A big meeting was planned to talk about changing leaders. But the plan hit roadblocks from Chiwenga supporters in the military and party. Recent changes in government jobs put Chiwenga in charge of Health Ministry tasks besides his Vice President work. Experts think this aims to cut his power.
Political experts say these events show deep splits in Zanu PF. Nobody knows for sure who will lead the party next. One expert who asked to stay unnamed said, "This battle has just started. Chiwenga has many friends in the military. Pushing him out will be hard."
Opposition groups jumped on news about these internal fights. They say Zanu PF leaders care more about power games than fixing Zimbabwe's money problems. With protests set for March 31, The Standard warns that these party fights might hurt the whole country's stability.
When reporters asked Chiwenga's office and top Zanu PF officials about these claims, nobody answered before the story went to print.
