Mliswa Urges Chiwenga to Resign, Accuses VP of Undermining Mnangagwa

HARARE – Former ZANU-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa has called on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to resign, accusing him of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa and fuelling internal party tensions. In a strongly worded post on X, Mliswa criticised Chiwenga’s recent public remarks, alleging that the Vice President was aligning himself with opposition narratives and social media sentiment.

The criticism follows a widely circulated video showing VP Chiwenga addressing congregants at a Roman Catholic Church gathering in Murewa, where he delivered a sermon drawing on biblical themes. In the address, VP Chiwenga referenced the story of King Hezekiah from the Book of Isaiah, recounting how the king was warned to “put his house in order” before being granted additional years of life. While framed as a spiritual message, the remarks have been interpreted by some political observers as carrying undertones linked to current governance debates.

Mliswa described the Vice President’s approach as indirect and politically risky, arguing that any disagreement with party policy should be addressed openly.

“This is as brazen an attack on the President as one can ever give,” Mliswa wrote. “For one so close to the President to resort to this is diplomatically gross and strategically poor.”

He further accused Chiwenga of “pandering to the whims of social media and the opposition” through what he termed “content creation,” rather than engaging party structures directly.

“If he is sincere that he opposes what ZANU-PF has come to represent, then he should resign like any self-respecting leader,” Mliswa said.

The remarks come amid growing debate over the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill 2026, which introduces significant changes to the country’s governance framework. The proposed law is widely seen as a ruling party initiative and has sparked discussion over leadership succession and the balance of power within government.

Mliswa argued that the bill is a collective party position, stating that Chiwenga, as a senior member of government and cabinet, cannot distance himself from decisions he was part of approving.

“CAB3 is not the product of any single individual but is a ZANU-PF project,” he said.

Mliswa went further, claiming that Chiwenga has effectively become an internal opposition figure within ZANU-PF, contributing to instability through what he described as veiled criticism.

“For the ruling party, he has become the main opposition,” Mliswa said, adding that the Vice President lacks sufficient political support to challenge party resolutions.

He also suggested that social media backing does not translate into real political influence within party structures.

VP Chiwenga has not publicly responded to Mliswa’s comments. The controversy places renewed focus on internal dynamics within ZANU-PF and the broader implications of constitutional changes currently under discussion. As debate intensifies, observers say how senior leaders navigate both public messaging and internal party processes will be critical in shaping Zimbabwe’s political trajectory.

Temba Mliswa Chiwenga