FROM BROTHERS TO BITTER ENEMIES: THE CHIWENGA-MNANGAGWA BETRAYAL

There was a time when Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga would have given his life for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. In November 2017, when Mnangagwa was fired by Robert Mugabe and forced to run to South Africa, it looked like his career was over. But Chiwenga stood by him. He did not leave him behind. He risked his own life and career to help bring Mnangagwa back.

Just two weeks after Mnangagwa was sacked, Chiwenga led a military coup. It was bold and dangerous. He faced great risk to remove Mugabe and open the door for Mnangagwa to return as a national hero. Mugabe’s 37 years of misrule ended that November, and Chiwenga’s actions made it all possible.

After the coup, Chiwenga did not stop supporting Mnangagwa. He stood next to him during the 2018 and 2023 elections, even though many people said those elections were unfair. He backed all of Mnangagwa’s plans, including the Vision2030 dream. He even called Mnangagwa “Munhumutapa,” a name once used by powerful Shona kings. Mnangagwa loved this so much that he named his birthday, 15 September, “Munhumutapa Day.”

Chiwenga went even further. At a Zanu PF congress in 2022, he knelt before Mnangagwa. He showed full loyalty in front of the whole country. Even after he was poisoned and nearly died, Chiwenga stayed loyal. He never tried to turn against Mnangagwa.

But now, everything has changed.

Mnangagwa has broken his promise to serve only one more term. He now wants a third term as president. This has caused a big fight between him and Chiwenga. Chiwenga feels used and betrayed. He believed Mnangagwa would step down and allow him to take over in 2023. But Mnangagwa is refusing to hand over power. He believes Chiwenga is not good enough to take his place.

Since the coup, Mnangagwa has slowly removed many of the people who helped him get to power. This is something that happens often after big political changes. In history, leaders like Napoleon, Stalin, Idi Amin, Mobutu, and Mugabe did the same. They got rid of close friends and allies to stay in power. Mnangagwa is doing the same thing now. He fears anyone who might take his place.

The recent removal of Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe proves this. Sanyatwe helped during the 2017 coup. Now he is gone. Mnangagwa wants to remove every threat, even those who once stood by him.

Yes, Mnangagwa helped Chiwenga once. When Mugabe tried to get rid of Chiwenga before the coup, Mnangagwa defended him. After the coup, he gave him big roles — Vice-President, Defence Minister, and head of war veterans. But back then, Mnangagwa needed Chiwenga. He had no other option.

In the long run, it was Chiwenga who gave more. Without Chiwenga’s bravery, Mnangagwa would not be president today. Chiwenga gave him strength, protection, and support. He stayed close during hard times and even after being poisoned.

Now Mnangagwa is standing in Chiwenga’s way. The man who once kneeled before him is now being blocked, betrayed, and pushed aside. The fight between them has turned deadly. Friends have become enemies. Allies are being purged. Power is the only thing that matters now.

Robert Mugabe once warned Chiwenga: Mnangagwa would one day betray him. That warning has come true.

This is the true face of Zimbabwean politics — dangerous, brutal, and filled with betrayal. Yesterday’s heroes are today’s enemies. Power is a dangerous game, and in Zimbabwe, no one is safe.