By Fanuel James
Vice President General (Rtd) Constantino Chiwenga has delivered his most direct criticism yet of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, calling for orderly change driven by the people and warning against individualistic rule.
Addressing the 23rd ZANU-PF National People’s Conference on Friday Chiwenga insisted that ZANU PF belongs to the people and not to individuals.
“Our party belongs to the people, never to individuals,” Chiwenga said.
He said while change was unavoidable, it must follow the party’s established procedures.
“While change is inevitable it must be orderly.
“In our party structures and guided by our constitution. Change must be driven by the people and not imposed from above,” he said.
In a pointed reminder to President Mnangagwa, Chiwenga invoked the President’s own mantra.
“You may recall your excellence that the voice of the people is the voice of God.
“As such we must remain true to that promise and carry with us the voice of the people,” he said.
Chiwenga said the party must return to its founding values of discipline and collective service.
“Discipline, accountability and selfless service must define our trajectory superseding disjointed and individualistic approaches,” he said.
Quoting the Chinese revolutionary leader, he added:
“Chairman Mao said, ‘individual desires and private virtues are meaningless outside their relationship to the collective.’
“He then concluded in Shona: “Mazvake mazvake ahana kwaanotisvitsa.”
The remarks are Chiwenga’s most explicit intervention since the passage of Constitution Amendment No. 3 and the ongoing debate over the extension of political terms from 2028 to 2030.
While he did not mention President Mnangagwa by name beyond the honorific, it was clear the speech was a clear rejection of attempts to personalize the party and the state.
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