THE GENERAL WHO MADE A KING — NOW FACING HIS OWN FALL

In November 2017, Zimbabwe’s politics changed forever. When Robert Mugabe fired Emmerson Mnangagwa as Vice-President, many people thought Mnangagwa’s political career was over. He ran away to South Africa to save his life. But one man, Constantino Chiwenga, did not leave him behind. He stood by Mnangagwa and helped him come back.

Chiwenga was the army general at the time. He took a very big risk. He led the army in a coup against Mugabe. This was not easy. He could have been arrested or even killed. But he believed in Mnangagwa and helped him return home like a hero. Because of Chiwenga, Mugabe’s 37 years of rule came to an end.

After that, Mnangagwa became president, but Chiwenga was always close. He stood with him during the elections of 2018 and 2023, even though many people said the elections were not fair. Chiwenga supported Mnangagwa’s plans, even his Vision2030 dream. He called him “Munhumutapa,” a name for powerful kings long ago. Mnangagwa liked this name so much that he even made his birthday a national day. He called it Munhumutapa Day.

In 2022, at a ZANU PF meeting, Chiwenga even knelt down in front of Mnangagwa. He wanted to show the world that he was loyal. When he was very sick after being poisoned, he still showed support. He never stopped believing in Mnangagwa.

But now, things have changed. Mnangagwa wants a third term. This is something he said he would never do. It has caused a fight between him and Chiwenga. Chiwenga believed that it was his turn to lead in 2023. He thinks Mnangagwa betrayed him. Mnangagwa doesn’t want Chiwenga to take over. He sees him as below him.

Mnangagwa has now started to remove the people who helped him. This happens a lot in African politics. Mugabe did the same. Other leaders like Stalin, Idi Amin, Mobutu and even Napoleon in France also removed people they once trusted. Mnangagwa is doing the same. He is afraid that someone might try to take his power.

One example is the removal of Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe. He helped a lot in the 2017 coup. But now, he has been removed. Mnangagwa is trying to clean up anyone who could be a threat. He does not want to be challenged.

Some people say Mnangagwa once helped Chiwenga too. When Mugabe tried to remove Chiwenga from the army before the coup, Mnangagwa protected him. After the coup, Mnangagwa gave Chiwenga a lot of power. He made him Vice-President and also in charge of the army and war veterans. But Mnangagwa had no choice. He needed Chiwenga at that time.

Even if Mnangagwa helped a bit, Chiwenga gave more. Without Chiwenga, Mnangagwa would never be president. Chiwenga did the hard work. He made the coup happen. He stayed loyal, even when things were hard.

Now, Mnangagwa is fighting to block Chiwenga from becoming president. He is removing anyone who stands in his way. The fight is ugly. Mugabe warned Chiwenga that this would happen one day. Now, that warning has come true.

Zimbabwe’s politics are full of betrayal and danger. One day, you are a hero. The next day, you are an enemy. That is what Chiwenga is learning now. He made a king, but now that king is trying to destroy him. The story of Mnangagwa and Chiwenga shows that in Zimbabwe, power is more important than friendship. And in the end, loyalty means nothing to those who want to rule forever.