Zimbabwean journalist and analyst Gabriel Manyati has written an open letter to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, urging him to rethink his strategy following a significant political setback at the 23rd ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi. Manyati argues that Chiwenga's current approach of public confrontation is no longer effective and that he needs to adopt a more strategic and patient approach.
Manyati, a prominent voice in Zimbabwean journalism, believes that Chiwenga's willingness to challenge party decisions he considers unconstitutional or ill-advised may earn him admirers among some party members but ultimately exposes his limitations and exhausts his political capital. He notes that Chiwenga's current strategy has resulted in him being outmaneuvered by the dominant faction within the party.
The Chinhoyi conference was a significant event that highlighted the limits of Chiwenga's current strategic trajectory. Manyati points out that the conference machinery rolled on despite Chiwenga's objections to certain resolutions, including those that pushed for structural extensions of presidential authority. The resolutions were adopted, and the dominant faction demonstrated its total grip on the party apparatus.
Manyati also highlights the recent passage and signing into law of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, known as CAA3, which formally extended presidential terms to seven years and altered presidential selection to a joint sitting of parliament. This move has effectively entrenched President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure through to 2030.
The realignment of economic and political influence within the party has also contributed to Chiwenga's setback. The elevation of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei to the ZANU PF Central Committee and his subsequent entry into the Politburo underscores a deliberate strategy to consolidate capital and party control around the executive presidency.
Manyati argues that Chiwenga needs to make a sharp distinction between defending a principle and choosing the most effective way to advance it. He believes that political strategy requires exquisite timing, quiet coalition-building, discretion, and an uncompromising assessment of the balance of forces.
Ultimately, Manyati's letter is a call for Chiwenga to reassess his strategy and adopt a more effective approach to advancing his goals within the party. He believes that Chiwenga remains one of the most formidable figures in Zimbabwe but that his current approach is no longer working.
Key points
- VP Chiwenga needs to reassess his strategy after a significant setback at the 23rd ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference.
- Chiwenga's current approach of public confrontation is no longer effective.
- Manyati urges Chiwenga to adopt a more strategic and patient approach, focusing on coalition-building and a compelling national vision.
