Zimbabwe faces contested leadership succession as President Mnangagwa seeks to extend his rule beyond 2028, facing opposition from military...

Source: Zim develops frameworks to beat energy crisis -Newsday Zimbabwe  ZIMBABWE has developed various frameworks for seamless integration of renewable energy into the national grid to meet national demand, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga has said. Chiwenga said this at the ongoing International Renewable Energy Conference and Expo in Victoria Falls. The conference was organised by The Standard weekly newspaper in conjunction with the Energy and Power Development ministry. The Standard is published by Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), who are also the publishers of daily NewsDay and another weekly, Zimbabwe Independent. AMH also operates the tele-radio station Heart & Soul. Chiwenga also launched the Renewable Energy Efficiency Policy, which is set to accelerate the broadening of the renewable energy industry in the country. “We have developed essential frameworks such as the solar industrial plan, the network master plan and the national electrification strategy to ensure the seamless integration of renewable energy into our national grid,” Chiwenga, who was speaking on behalf of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, said. Mnangagwa is the patron of the conference. “This policy aims to optimise the use of existing energy resources, reduce waste and promote sustainable practices across the economy,” Chiwenga said. “Furthermore, private sector-driven projects such as captive power plants are already underway and are expected to significantly reduce load shedding in the near future, contributing to a more reliable energy supply for all Zimbabweans.” He noted that the government is dedicated to addressing the challenges being faced by the energy sector. “The government has implemented key policy frameworks, such as the Energy Efficiency Policy and the Renewable Energy Policy, designed to promote a cleaner and more resilient energy sector,” he said. “We are working to address challenges related to post-competitiveness, policy uncertainty and infrastructure development, which are critical to achieving a just and equitable energy transition.” He called for collective action among energy sector players to pool resources together to enhance regional energy security. He said the country’s target was to achieve 2 100 megawatts of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. “This goal aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 7, which seeks to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy,” Chiwenga said. “These efforts not only serve as a model for other nations in the region, but also position Zimbabwe as a regional leader in renewable energy development.” He urged the private sector to join forces with government and international players to fund the renewable energy industry with emphasis on storage technology. Chiwenga said green energy storage technologies were the next frontier in guaranteeing reliable power. “We actively encourage the private sector, financial institutions and international partners to invest in our energy sector,” he said. “Through collaborations and innovation, we can unlock the financial capital needed to develop our plants and infrastructure that will benefit the private sector in our communities.” “Zimbabwe is dedicated to removing barriers to doing business and fostering partnerships that result in sustainable, clean and affordable energy for all.” Chiwenga emphasised the need to ensure the availability of power storage facilities. “This is a critical area that we want to see the private sector, the financiers and all stakeholders taking a keen interest in,” he said. “Zimbabwe is fully committed to these targets, which align with our national strategy of transitioning to sustainable energy systems. “Critical sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing require constant electric energy supply for operational stability.” “Therefore, investing in renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydropower will not only ensure a stable energy supply, but also foster economic productivity and competitiveness, as well as reduce reliance on conventional energy supply sources.” He said the national electricity access rate stood at 62%, with the rural areas experiencing access levels as low as 20%. Chiwenga said the disparity presented both a significant challenge and an opportunity for rapid improvement. “The government has already embarked on several transformative renewable energy projects, including large-scale solar farms and wind energy initiatives. The conference ends tomorrow. The post Zim develops frameworks to beat energy crisis appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Vice President General (Retired) Constantino Chiwenga has publicly welcomed a ruling by the South African High Court to seize properties belonging to his ex-wife, Marry Mubaiwa, describing the move as a triumph of “cross-border justice and accountability.” However, critics have swiftly condemned the Vice President’s response as a calculated act of vengeance dressed up as a pursuit of the rule of law.

Zimabwean war veteren Blessed Geza alleges that Mnangagwa was behind Chiwenga’s 2020 health crisis and other suspicious military deaths.

The November 2017 military move in Zimbabwe that marked the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule opened a completely new phase in the southern African

Vice-President Chiwenga accuses President Mnangagwa’s allies of looting US$3.2 billion from party coffers and demands arrests

Mnangagwa is at the center of escalating factional battles within Zanu-PF, as the ruling party’s internal power struggles spill into public view ahead of the crucial June 28 by-elections. Mounting evidence points to electoral manipulation designed to marginalize rivals and entrench factional dominance—an effort widely seen as driven by Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, in a bid to cement their influence in the post-Mugabe political era.

Seven years after the coup, Mnangagwa’s manoeuverings to stay in power are angering Chiwenga and other generals

The November 2017 military move in Zimbabwe that marked the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule opened a completely new phase in the southern African

  Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a rally against US-imposed sanctions in Bulawayo on 25 October 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Munashe Chokodza) Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s second and last term in office is hanging by a thread after former freedom fighters backing his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, called for an “uprising” on 31 March, demanding that he resign following allegations of massive corruption, nepotism and a litany of other charges. Mnangagwa – who came to power through a military coup, led by then army chief Chiwenga, that ousted former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017 after accusing Mugabe of being surrounded by criminals – promised a raft of key democratic and economic reforms to save the country from economic collapse. But, war veterans now feel that the president has reneged on his promises and presided over a floundering economy characterised by favouritism, cronyism and organised looting of the national cake. With only three years before the expiry of his last constitutional term of office, Mnangagwa’s loyalists are campaigning for the Zanu-PF leader to remain in office beyond 2028. But Mnangagwa (82) has told Zimbabweans that he will not seek an extension of his term, claiming he is a “constitutionalist”. The constitution prohibits Mnangagwa from contesting in the 2028 presidential elections. Riled by this campaigning, ex-combatants led by Blessed Runesu Geza – a former member of Parliament and member of the ruling party’s highest decision-making body, the Central Committee, until recently when he was expelled for fanning factionalism – are now calling for Mnangagwa to step aside and make way for a new leader, accusing the president of presiding over a corrupt governing system, poisoning Chiwenga and granting tenders to his henchmen and close family members, among a host of charges. Mnangagwa is yet to respond to many of the allegations against him. After the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s national spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, declared Geza a wanted man, detectives allegedly harassed Geza’s wife and briefly detained her, demanding to know her husband’s whereabouts. The militant Geza, who was the first war veteran to call for Mugabe’s resignation before the 2017 coup, went into hiding and only reappeared on social media several weeks later, in military uniform, reigniting calls for Mnangagwa’s ousting and openly declaring that the bulk of the country’s former liberation fighters were backing Chiwenga to take over from his boss. It remains unclear whether the country’s army would participate, as it did in 2017 when it rolled out tanks onto the streets. However, some Zanu-PF and army sources told Daily Maverick the involvement of the army in the planned protests is possible given Chiwenga’s close links to the army hierarchy. “General Chiwenga is a decorated military man who has worked directly with the current generals in the army. Despite the fact that President Mnangagwa has a relationship with (current army chief) General Valerio Sibanda, Chiwenga still commands a lot of respect of the command element within the defence forces. Whether the army will bring out tanks depends on how Chiwenga wants to manage the succession issue within Zanu-PF and government,” a military source said. Chiwenga has kept mum on Geza’s claims and his alleged presidential ambitions, although he publicly criticised corruption at a national event broadcast on television, at which Mnangagwa’s supporters sang revolutionary songs denouncing him, while Chiwenga’s supporters hit back at the same event. As pressure mounts on Mnangagwa to leave office, the president is fighting back by cracking down on dissent, with Alpha Media Holdings journalist Blessed Mhlanga the latest victim. Mhlanga was arrested after he broadcast Geza’s interviews on AMH’s Heart and Soul TV. He has been denied bail twice after he was accused of transmitting messages that could plunge the country into chaos. Media and human rights watchdogs have criticised Mhlanga’s arrest, saying it undermined media freedom in Zimbabwe. Some of the war veterans who are reportedly working with Geza have also gone into hiding, but Mhlanga’s arrest has not deterred Geza from calling for Mnangagwa’s resignation. “What we are calling for on March 31 is not a demonstration but an uprising. We want to warn (police commissioner, General) Stephen Mutamba to ensure that no demonstrator will be arrested or injured,” said the war veteran in announcing the date of countrywide protests. “Mnangagwa must go and he must go now because Zimbabwe will be a shell by the time he leaves,” added Geza who also accused the president of looting the country’s natural resources, such as gold, using cronies and his children as fronts. The police chief said he had no authority to sanction mass protests. Immediately after Geza called for the protests, Mnangagwa allegedly held crisis meetings with some of his henchmen at State House and his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe, about 200km southwest of the capital, Harare. Zanu-PF deputy secretary for youth affairs, John Paradza, has warned that the ruling party’s youth wing will thwart the protests.  Zanu-PF deputy president Constantino Chiwenga (left) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the National Stadium in Harare on 28 July 2018 in the run-up to elections on 30 July 2018. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Yeshiel Panchia) “What we want to say and promise Your Excellency is that as long as me and Honourable (Tino) Machakaire (Zanu-PF secretary for youth affairs) remain leaders of the youths whom you see in attendance there would be no demonstration that will succeed under our watch,” Paradza said at a function attended by Mnangagwa. However, former Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, who served as cabinet minister under Mugabe and went into exile following the 2017 election, said Zimbabweans had a constitutional right to protest and remove a government. “It is the people’s right to protest if they feel the leadership have gone astray. Geza equally has a right to make the call. Beyond 2028 will be stretching it too far,” said Kasukuwere, now a critic of the ruling Zanu-PF who was barred from contesting the presidency in previous elections. Following threats by war veterans to embark on nationwide protests, some countries, including Australia, have issued warnings to their citizens to refrain from travelling to Zimbabwe for safety reasons. Geza claimed he was working with some opposition leaders, such as Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti, Douglas Mwonzora and other unnamed officials in the government and ruling Zanu-PF, to usher in a new government after the protests. It was not clear what form his proposed new government would look like, although some key opposition figures are not convinced that there would be a transitional arrangement pending fresh elections. After the November 2017 coup, Zanu-PF single-handedly embarked on a process to appoint Mugabe’s successor without consulting the opposition, despite the opposition participating in the protests that resulted in Mugabe’s forced resignation. Chamisa, the country’s main opposition leader who controversially lost to Mnangagwa in the 2023 general elections condemned by the Southern African Development Community and other international observers, has neither denied nor confirmed that his supporters would be party to the 31 March protests. “Zimbabwe needs leaders who see governance as both a service and a sacred duty to serve God’s people to enhance integrity, progress and prosperity to a nation. Zimbabwe shall be known for good governance, exemplary, fantastic policies, values, rights and the rule of law. We will set an example in everything,” Chamisa said. Former finance minister Biti is on record calling for a transitional government to extricate the country from economic collapse and implement key democratic reforms before fresh elections are held. DM

The November 2017 military move in Zimbabwe that marked the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule opened a completely new phase in the southern African

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dramatically reshaped the leadership of Zanu PF by removing Secretary-General Obert Mpofu and appointing his close ally, Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament, in his place. Mpofu, a key supporter of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, has been reassigned to the relatively marginal position of Secretary for ICT — a move widely seen as a calculated blow to Chiwenga’s influence in the ruling party’s deepening succession battle.

"Check Your Conscience": UPND Youth Security Chief Slams Bitter Ex-MPs Over Election Petitions September 13, 2026LUSAKA — UPND National Youth Security Chairman Fanwell Hasulwe, widely known as General Chiwenga, has launched a blistering attack on losing ruling party parliamentary candidates, warning them to examine their consciences before challenging election results in court. In a strongly

CHIWENGA HEADS TO CHINA FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT DRIVEBy Staff ReporterVice-President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga has left for China on a high-level visit focused on expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation between Harare and Beijing. Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding confirmed Chiwenga’s departure, saying he had the “privilege of seeing off” the Vice-President

The November 2017 military move in Zimbabwe that marked the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule opened a completely new phase in the southern African

MNANGAGWA IN MOZAMBIQUE AS CHIWENGA TAKES OVER AS ACTING PRESIDENTPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa has left Zimbabwe for Mozambique to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Capacity Expansion Project at the Nhamatanda Centre in Beira, Sofala Province. Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is acting as President during Mnangagwa’s absence. The expansion project is expected to increase the annual capacity

ZANU PF HARARE PROVINCE SEEKS TO SHUT DOWN CHIWENGA PRESIDENCY BID? Harare — The battle for the future leadership of ZANU PF appears to be gathering momentum, with the party’s Harare Province adopting resolutions that could have significant implications for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s reported ambitions to lead the ruling party and possibly the country

CHIWENGA’S WAITING GAME: WHAT EXACTLY IS HE WAITING FOR?The Cold War After the ConstitutionBy Reason WafawarovaThere is a theory circulating within Zimbabwe’s political corridors that President Emmerson Mnangagwa cannot fire Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.The argument is that dismissing Chiwenga would produce a rupture: it would convert a frustrated Vice-President into an aggrieved liberation-war figure, awaken dormant