By Staff Reporter
Copyright nehandaradio
HARARE – Former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has suggested that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s recent anti-corruption drive may be rooted in personal disputes rather than a genuine commitment to accountability, linking the campaign to deepening factional rivalries within Zanu-PF.
In a lengthy thread on X (formerly Twitter), Mliswa alleged that controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s fallout with Chiwenga stemmed from unfulfilled financial commitments tied to the Vice President’s wedding and family expenses.
He argued that the breakdown was later “packaged as an anti-corruption campaign” to justify Chivayo’s arrest.
“The basic point is that many leaders have themselves been involved in corruption and shouldn’t curtail the actual fight against it by hijacking that struggle and turning it into a political weapon,” Mliswa said, calling for state institutions to lead anti-graft efforts independently of political influence.
According to Mliswa, the financial saga began with extravagant demands made around the Vice President’s wedding. The VP allegedly asked for six Rolls Royces as part of his celebrations and an additional US$250,000 for preparations.
During the wedding itself, he reportedly received another US$250,000 as a gift, though only US$50,000 of that amount was publicly announced at the ceremony.
The couple’s honeymoon at the luxurious Four Seasons in Seychelles was also financed, with a further US$250,000 allegedly provided.
On their return, while passing through South Africa, the VP’s new wife is said to have received 1 million Rand for shopping, while the VP himself pocketed another 1 million Rand to buy a gift for her.
Mliswa further claims that the couple went on to request US$450,000 to secure three apartments for the VP’s children, who had to vacate his home following his new marriage. Of that amount, US$300,000 was reportedly paid, leaving a balance of US$150,000 outstanding.
It was the delay in settling this outstanding amount, after what had already been more than US$1 million and 2 million Rand received in just two months, that allegedly soured relations.
His claims come shortly after reports that Chiwenga presented a dossier at a Zanu-PF politburo meeting, alleging that the ruling party secretly holds a stake in Sakunda Holdings, a powerful fuel and energy company linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
The dossier reportedly accused business figures such as Chivayo, Scott Sakupwanya and Paul Tungwarara of benefiting from resources diverted to build rival patronage networks within the party.
Mnangagwa is widely believed to be positioning his allies for influence beyond his final term, while Chiwenga’s support base has been weakened by recent politburo changes.
There are reports that Mliswa has been paid by Mnangagwa’s loyalists to attack Chiwenga. He is reportedly set to be rewarded with an appointment as the next Minister of Sport in the next cabinet reshuffle.
