HARARE – Tensions within Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party reached fever pitch on Monday at the National Heroes Acre, where the burial of Justin Mupamhanga became a stage for a public display of factional rivalry, played out through song and dance.
Supporters of Acting President Constantino Chiwenga, who has faced recent criticism from a faction aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, openly sang his praises during the proceedings.
This public show of support wasn’t coincidental. In a strongly worded address at the burial, Chiwenga launched a scathing attack on corruption within the ruling party, directly targeting those he termed “mbingas” – a Shona word implying arrogance and ostentation.
He accused these individuals of enriching themselves illicitly, saying: “We all swore to a shared future in which everyone had a place on the table, a place in the sun for a culture of equal opportunity where every Zimbabwean served in equal measure. Zvehubvanzu bvanzu kudya kwe mhumhi takazviramba. Our vision 2030 is for all of us kwete dzamunoti mbinga kuhondo taidziti zvigananda, those who grow big tummies through ill-gotten wealth and questionable morals…”
His supporters chanted “Chivayo, Chivayo,” a clear reference to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, known for his extravagant displays of wealth.
Beneficiaries included musicians, comedians, footballers, Zanu-PF activists, and leaders of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu church. The gifts ranged from Toyota Aquas, so numerous they became a social media joke, to Mercedes Benzes and Range Rovers, costing between US$28,000 and US$180,000. The Johanne Masowe eChishanu church received nearly US$3 million, while musicians received approximately US$1.9 million.
Jah Prayzah (Mukudzeyi Mukombe) emerged as the largest single recipient, receiving a US$180,000 Mercedes Benz S500 in January 2024, in addition to earlier gifts of Toyota Aquas for his dancers and son, and US$20,000 in cash. His public praise for Chivayo sparked considerable online debate, with some criticising it as “bootlicking.” This criticism led to Chivayo’s unusual “apology” – a pledge to give Jah Prayzah an additional US$150,000 and a new Range Rover Sport, claiming it was calculated at US$10 per critical comment on social media. “Hanzi 15,000 comments muchitukwa mwana wevanhu kuti why waremekedza SIR…AAAAA muneshuwa???,” Chivayo wrote on Facebook. “Ndiri CHIRANGA MAPENZI, so I’ll do the Maths: 15,000 comments X 10 US dollars… Saka zvareva kuti 150 thousand USD in hard cash musi wanotora mota yake kwaVictor.”
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart publicly expressed his disappointment with Peter Ndlovu on X, stating, “I am sad to see Peter Ndlovu sully his fine name in this way,” highlighting the responsibility of celebrities to question the source of such extravagant gifts. The Zion Christian Church also received a US$1 million donation from Chivayo, prompting further scrutiny. However, not all accepted Chivayo’s generosity; Thomas Mapfumo famously refused a house and car, citing concerns about the source of Chivayo’s wealth.
Chiwenga’s address at Mupamhanga’s burial went beyond a condemnation of Chivayo. He spoke more broadly about the need for equitable distribution of Zimbabwe’s resources, emphasising the importance of shared prosperity.
“The gold, the diamonds, the platinum, the much-sought after lithium, the uranium, gas, gas, oil, the rare earth minerals and much more, all of which no foreigner saw or fully enjoyed before our time. Today, all these must be shared equitably, and for the development yechitsuwa chedu cheZimbabwe,” he stated.
He further stressed the importance of succession and mutual respect within the party, highlighting the values and aspirations of the nation’s fallen heroes. “Inhaka yemusiidzanwa, a timeless heritage which each generation must safeguard jealously, and bequeath to the next one after it,” he concluded.
