CHIWENGA CRUSHES MNANGAGWA’S THIRD TERM DREAM

In a stunning turn of events, Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has crushed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dream of running for a third term. Backed by the military, Chiwenga has now taken control of the country’s political chessboard, forcing Mnangagwa to publicly backtrack on his hidden plan to stay in power beyond 2028.

Mnangagwa had been relying on the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and its shadowy affiliate Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) to maintain his grip on power. He had sidelined the military, the same group that helped him rise to power after the 2017 coup that removed Robert Mugabe. But while he celebrated his apparent victory in the last election, cracks were already forming beneath the surface. The military had grown frustrated and angry over being cast aside.

The army finally made its move. High-ranking officers sent a clear message: Mnangagwa’s third term plot, cooked up with FAZ and CIO, would not be allowed to succeed. The military’s message was simple—enough is enough. Their support shifted fully to Chiwenga, setting the stage for a political battle that Mnangagwa couldn’t win.

The shift became crystal clear when Chiwenga’s ally, Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe, was appointed commander of the Zimbabwe National Army. Mnangagwa had previously tried to get rid of Sanyatwe by sending him to Tanzania as an ambassador. But now the tables have turned, and Sanyatwe is back with more power than ever.

Chiwenga is no longer hiding his ambition. His high-profile wedding to Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi in December was more than a personal celebration—it was a political power play. With the military’s full backing, Chiwenga has emerged as the likely successor. This left Mnangagwa with no option but to retreat from the third term talk, even though it had been loudly promoted by his Zanu PF youth supporters.

For months, Mnangagwa played a dangerous game—denying he wanted a third term while letting his supporters push the idea publicly. But when the pressure became too much and the military showed it was ready to block him, he gave up the act. In a recent interview, Mnangagwa claimed he never wanted a third term and blamed the rumors on the “imaginative” nature of Zimbabweans. He also insisted that Zanu PF respects the constitution and the rule of law.

But this sudden change of tone has not fooled anyone. Zimbabweans know how Mnangagwa operates. His re-election was already full of questionable legal steps and backdoor deals. The talk of constitutional amendments was real, and Zanu PF still holds enough power in parliament to push changes if it wants to. However, according to the law, any change to term limits can’t benefit the sitting president. This means even if the rules were changed, Mnangagwa wouldn’t be allowed to run again under the current constitution.

The fall of Mnangagwa’s third term plan reveals a lot about the way power works in Zimbabwe. No leader, no matter how powerful, can survive without the support of the military. In 2017, it was the army that helped him take over. Now, it’s the army that has ended his hopes of staying in power past 2028.

The political stage in Zimbabwe is changing fast. Chiwenga has shown that he’s ready to take over, and Mnangagwa’s influence is shrinking. The fight for control within Zanu PF is not over, but one thing is clear—Mnangagwa’s dream of ruling until 2030 is dead.

Zimbabweans are watching closely. Many are tired of leaders clinging to power. They want real change, not recycled leaders and broken promises. As Mnangagwa pretends to respect the constitution, the people know the truth. He tried to extend his rule—and he failed.