Chiwenga’s Anti-Corruption Rhetoric: All Talk, No Handcuffs?

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the ZNCC annual congress (image source)

HARARE — Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has carved out a unique space in Zimbabwe’s political theatre: the general-turned-politician who promises a “day of reckoning” for the country’s corrupt elites. His speeches often ring with fire and fury, targeting the zvigananda — the untouchable, politically connected figures accused of siphoning off public resources. But as each fiery address makes its way into headlines, one uncomfortable truth lingers: no meaningful prosecutions, no major asset recoveries, and certainly no high-profile handcuffs have followed. Instead, Zimbabweans are left asking whether Chiwenga’s anti-corruption crusade is genuine — or merely a rhetorical weapon in the factional power games of ZANU-PF.

The Sound and the Silence

The Vice President’s speeches have become predictable theatre. His warnings of “a day of reckoning” are widely quoted in state media, his denunciations of “economic saboteurs” repeated across political rallies. Yet beyond words, tangible consequences remain elusive.

“Every speech sounds the same — threats without handcuffs,” a Harare resident told NewsDay.

Political commentator Rashweat Mukundu sharpened the point further:“The louder the speeches grow, the more the silence of real action becomes deafening.”

Zimbabwe’s Anti-Corruption Machinery

Zimbabwe is not short on anti-corruption infrastructure. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the Auditor-General’s Office, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) all exist — at least on paper — to ensure accountability.

Yet these institutions remain shackled by political interference, selective justice, and a lack of independence. High-profile arrests, when they do occur, often collapse in court for “lack of evidence” or are quietly abandoned.

Civil society groups have consistently called for reforms:

• Mandatory asset declarations for top officials

• Whistle-blower protections for insiders

• Judicial independence shielded from political meddling

“These reforms don’t need fiery speeches. They need political will,” The Southern Eye wrote in a recent editorial.

Politics, Not Principles?

Still, Chiwenga’s stance is striking because he is the only senior government official who consistently deploys anti-corruption language. Other ministers remain silent — either out of fear, complicity, or recognition that their wealth cannot withstand scrutiny. This raises the question: is Chiwenga laying the groundwork for a post-Mnangagwa power bid, branding himself as the reformist soldier-statesman? Or is this simply a tool to weaken rivals while protecting allies?

Analysts suggest many of his warnings are coded attacks on tycoons aligned with President Mnangagwa, such as Wicknell Chivayo or remnants of Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s patronage empire. If true, anti-corruption talk becomes less about good governance and more about succession politics.

The Cost of Inaction

Zimbabweans have seen this script before. Under Robert Mugabe, corruption exposés were weaponised in intra-party battles, but rarely produced systemic reform. The cost is borne by citizens: hospitals without drugs, teachers striking for wages, pensioners sleeping in bank queues. Each unpunished scandal deepens hardship.

“We don’t need more generals with speeches. We need generals with handcuffs,” muttered one civil servant at a recent rally.

Symbolism vs Substance

Chiwenga has succeeded in keeping corruption in public discourse, but failure to deliver real accountability risks turning him into a caricature — the loud general who threatens but never bites. For Zimbabweans, the test is simple: when will the zvigananda finally face justice in the courts, rather than just in the Vice President’s speeches?

Until that day arrives, the so-called “day of reckoning” remains indefinitely postponed.