Zvishavane – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s birthday celebrations in Zvishavane were held with vice president Constantino Chiwenga in no show, a sign of fierce factional fights within the ruling ZANU PF.
Mnangagwa turned 83 on Monday and celebrated his birthday in Zvishavane his home town in the Midlands province.
Several key senior government officials including vice president Kembo Mohadi and ministers attended the birthday bash but Chiwenga’s absence raised long held suspicions that relations are at an all time low between the former army general and Mnangagwa.
Time News is yet to establish why Chiwenga snubbed Mnangagwa’s birthday bash but he vice president conspicuous absence was seen by all who attended.
However, it is an open secret that sharp divisions and differences emerged after Mnangagwa camp within ZANU PF pushed the agenda for the veteran ruler to rule beyond 2028 to 2030.
Mnangagwa supporters including senior party officials continue to push that the 83 year-old extend his rule to 2030 beyond the constitutional mandated maximum two terms limit.
ZANU PF holds its annual conference in Mutare in October and party provinces recently have been calling for Mnangagwa’s term extension.
Tenderprenuer and controversial businessman, Wicknell Chivayo donated Land Cruisers and US$100 000 cash to ZANU PF provincial chairpersons in a move that raises questions ahead of the conference.
Chiwenga has condemned corrupt tenderprenuers calling them “Zvigananda”.
The ruling ZANU PF holds the politburo meetings this week on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
Chiwenga then army General and commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces carried a coup against long ruling Robert Mugabe in November 2017 pacing the way for Mnangagwa to get into power.
After he was appointed Mnangagwa’s deputy, many people believed Chiwenga was the natural successor of Mnangagwa but as the politics stand in ZANU PF this may not be the case.
Several Chiwenga supporters in the Harare ZANU PF province structures were dismissed for being against the Mnangagwa 2030 agenda and for their support of Chiwenga.
Chiwenga has reasonably been quiet and has not spoken openly against Mnangagwa’s term extension plan but his supporters like exiled war veteran Blessed Geza have openly condemned the 2030 agenda.
