Bulawayo – The 21st ZANU-PF National People’s Conference in Bulawayo has witnessed a subtle yet significant power play, with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s address casting a long shadow over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ambitions for a third term in office.
While the conference initially appeared to be a platform for solidifying support for the “2030 Mnangagwa” campaign, Chiwenga’s carefully worded speech injected a note of uncertainty into the proceedings, leaving many to question the future of the President’s political aspirations.
Delegates from across the country, including Harare, Midlands, Mashonaland, and Matabeleland, had openly voiced their support for Mnangagwa to extend his leadership beyond 2028, the end of his second term.
This vocal support painted a picture of unwavering loyalty and a clear path to continued presidential rule. However, Chiwenga’s speech subtly challenged this narrative, shifting the focus from the President’s personal ambitions to the pressing needs of the Zimbabwean people.
In a calculated move, Chiwenga sidestepped direct endorsement of the “2030 Mnangagwa” campaign, instead emphasising the party’s crucial role in improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
His address focused on economic development, industrialisation, and the need for a stable currency to stimulate trade and commerce. This strategic shift in focus redirected attention away from the succession debate and onto the party’s performance in addressing critical economic issues.
“It is therefore essential that we use this conference to develop resolutions that drive industrialisation and propel our economic trajectory towards modernisation,” Chiwenga stated as he linked the party’s success to the realisation of Vision 2030.
This statement, while seemingly supportive of the President’s broader vision, subtly avoided endorsing his continued leadership as the key to achieving it.
Chiwenga’s emphasis on economic empowerment and the need for a stable currency underscored his commitment to tangible improvements in the lives of Zimbabweans. This pragmatic approach contrasted with the more purely political focus of the “2030 Mnangagwa” campaign, suggesting a different strategic vision within the party leadership.
While acknowledging Mnangagwa’s contributions to ZANU-PF and his leadership in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and tourism, Chiwenga’s praise remained carefully measured. He lauded Mnangagwa’s historical role within the party and his resilience in the face of adversity, but stopped short of explicitly endorsing his continued presidency.
“May I conclude by reminding us all that our president has been consistently active and influential in shaping the body politic of our country from the days of his youth in the 1960s. He has been a loyal, selfless and dedicated gallant son of this revolutionary party Zanu PF,” Chiwenga stated, acknowledging Mnangagwa’s legacy without explicitly endorsing his future leadership.
Chiwenga’s call for unity and discipline within the party, while seemingly innocuous, served as a subtle reminder of the potential for internal divisions and the need for a unified approach to addressing the country’s challenges. This emphasis on party unity could be interpreted as a veiled warning against factionalism and a call for a more inclusive leadership approach.
The Vice President’s speech concluded with a focus on the urgent need to address challenges such as drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, and food insecurity. This focus on immediate national concerns further underscored his commitment to tangible results and a departure from the purely political focus on Mnangagwa’s extended tenure.
The impact of Chiwenga’s calculated move remains to be seen. However, his speech has undoubtedly injected uncertainty into the “2030 Mnangagwa” campaign, raising questions about the President’s future and potentially opening the door to alternative leadership scenarios within ZANU-PF.
