HARARE – Outspoken former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has claimed that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has “no political capital” within the ruling Zanu-PF party, arguing that the former military commander lacks grassroots support and is disconnected from party structures.
Speaking during an interview on the programme Hot Seat with journalist Violet Gonda, Mliswa said Chiwenga’s influence in national politics was limited because he was “a soldier, not a politician,” adding that his position as Vice President was purely by presidential appointment rather than popular support.
Mliswa further claimed that Chiwenga’s own home province, Mashonaland East, does not fully back him, suggesting that internal divisions and lack of connection with ordinary members undermine his leadership prospects.
“The Vice President has no political capital. He’s not a politician. And for him to become the president of this country, he must be supported by the party structures. The party structures are political. And he’s not at all supported by the party structures.
“First of all, his own province, which is Mashonaland East, which is chaired by Honourable Garwe. They don’t see eye to eye. He does not attend meetings. He’s a soldier.
“A soldier is not a politician! He has to go at ward level? He has to go at village level. He has to go at constituency level.
“He has to go at district level. He has to go at provincial level, then national level. These are the structures. I’ve never seen him at ward level. I have never seen him at village level. I have never seen him at constituency level, I’ve never seen him at provincial level.
“All I’ve seen of him is in the Central Committee and in the Politburo lobbying for himself. When you have people they lobby for you, you don’t lobby for yourself.
“He’s lobbying for himself! He has got nobody behind him. It’s the same thing as a thirty-tonne load but it’s still moving. He has no political capital,” he said.
Mliswa’s remarks come amid growing speculation within political circles about Zanu-PF’s succession dynamics and the possible emergence of new contenders such as businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, whom Mliswa described as enjoying increasing support within the party.
“He’s young and he made it, and he was supported by people who were part of the liberation. Kuda Tagwireyi will also be supported by people who were part of the liberation,” Mliswa stated.
The succession dispute between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Chiwenga’s camps stem from the proposal to amend the constitution to allow the incumbent to remain in office until 2030.
Chiwenga believes that he has the right to be the next Zanu-PF leader after Mnangagwa’s second term expires in 2028.
But Mnangagwa has allegedly deployed his camp to fight the former Army General, reportedly paying the likes of Mliswa to run smear campaigns against his deputy.
