Harare – Christopher Mutsvangwa, the outspoken Zanu PF spokesman, has long been one of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s most vocal critics. However, ZimLive can reveal that the animosity between the two extends beyond mere political rivalry: they are, in fact, brothers.
Sources familiar with the family’s history suggest that Mutsvangwa’s anger is fuelled by a potent combination of jealousy and a long-standing family feud, which prompted his grandfather to relocate from Wedza in Mashonaland East to Mhondoro, Mashonaland West.
According to these sources, three siblings – the grandfathers of Mutsvangwa, the late defence minister Moven Mahachi, and Chiwenga – experienced a bitter falling out that fractured the family.
A source explained to ZimLive: “Moven’s grandfather fled to Manicaland, where he adopted the surname Mahachi, while Christopher’s father moved west to Mhondoro and became a Mutsvangwa.”
“The victor, Constantino’s grandfather, remained in Wedza, retaining the big surname. He did this by acquiring guns from the Portuguese at Kanyemba, then a trading post. The vice president’s name, Constantino, is from those contacts with the Portuguese.”
The source opined that Mutsvangwa is driven by a desire to reclaim what he perceives as his side of the family’s lost glory.
“His single obsession is to be above Chiwenga in everything, an unrelenting determination to avenge his family’s disgrace. He wants to be the more educated brother, the brother who allegedly had more heroic exploits during the war and the one who became president,” the source explained.
The source added: “Chiwenga, despite his limited education, has excelled – from commanding the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to landing the vice presidency and now seemingly with a clear shot at the presidency and this drives Mutsvangwa insane.”
In his most recent outburst, Mutsvangwa branded Chiwenga as illiterate, cruel, and unelectable.
Chiwenga’s supporters have swiftly rallied to his defence, highlighting Mutsvangwa’s poor track record in elections.
The question remains: what about Mutsvangwa’s own presidential aspirations?
Former Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu, weighed in on X, stating: “He can only be president if he’s the last one standing.”
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