BROTHERS TURNED ENEMIES IN THE FIGHT FOR POWER

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga once stood with President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a very strong and loyal way. When things were very bad for Mnangagwa, Chiwenga did not leave him. On 6 November 2017, the late former president Robert Mugabe fired Mnangagwa as Vice President. Mnangagwa ran to South Africa to save his life. Many people thought his political career was finished. But Chiwenga stood by him and was ready to risk everything for him.

Only two weeks later, Chiwenga came back to Zimbabwe and led a military coup against Mugabe. He put his own life in danger. He made sure Mugabe was removed after ruling for 37 long years. Chiwenga cleared the way for Mnangagwa to return home like a hero. After Mugabe fell, Mnangagwa became president, but it was Chiwenga who had done all the hard work to make it happen.

Even after Mnangagwa became president, Chiwenga continued to support him. He defended him during the disputed 2018 election and again in 2023. Chiwenga stood with him always and never questioned him. He even supported Mnangagwa’s Vision2030 plan. He praised Mnangagwa in public and even called him “Munhumutapa,” a very strong and historic title used by ancient Shona kings. Mnangagwa enjoyed this praise so much that he made his birthday, 15 September, into Munhumutapa Day so he could show his power.

Chiwenga even kneeled in front of Mnangagwa at a Zanu PF congress in 2022 to show respect. Many people saw this as a sign that Chiwenga would do anything for Mnangagwa. Even when Chiwenga got sick from poisoning, he never stopped supporting him. He always put Mnangagwa first.

But now everything has changed. Mnangagwa wants a third term as president, even though he once said he would only serve one term. This has brought a big fight between him and Chiwenga. Chiwenga feels very betrayed. He believed it was his turn to become president in 2023. But Mnangagwa refuses to step aside. He believes Chiwenga is below him and must not take over.

Since Mnangagwa came into power, he has started removing people who once helped him. This happens often after coups or big changes. Leaders begin to fear betrayal and remove anyone who might challenge them. Leaders like Napoleon, Stalin, Idi Amin, Mobutu and Mugabe all did the same thing. Mnangagwa is now doing this too. He fears that people like Chiwenga may one day turn against him. The removal of Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe, who helped in the 2017 coup, shows Mnangagwa is clearing away anyone he sees as a danger.

But Mnangagwa and Chiwenga’s relationship was never simple. Mnangagwa also helped Chiwenga in the past. When Mugabe wanted to fire Chiwenga before the coup, Mnangagwa protected him. After the coup, Mnangagwa gave Chiwenga big power as Vice President, Defence minister and head of war veterans. But at that time, Mnangagwa had no choice. He needed Chiwenga’s military strength to keep control of the country.

Still, Chiwenga has given Mnangagwa much more than he has received. Without Chiwenga, Mnangagwa would never have become president. It was Chiwenga who made Mugabe resign. It was Chiwenga who defended him in public and in private.

Today, Mnangagwa is blocking Chiwenga from becoming president. The fight between the two men has become very serious and dangerous. Purges and betrayals are happening. The removal of allies like Sanyatwe shows Mnangagwa can be very ruthless. Mugabe once warned Chiwenga that this would happen, and now it is happening. Zimbabwean politics remain a dark and dangerous place, where brothers in the struggle quickly become enemies in the fight for power.