HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s long-time spokesperson, George Charamba and Information and Publicity Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana, have found themselves at the centre of a political storm, accused by Kuda Tagwireyi’s sidekick Temba Mliswa of betrayal and double-dealing in the deepening succession battle between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.
Insiders say Charamba and Mangwana, who have been Mnangagwa’s mouthpiece since the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, are now facing mounting backlash from Tagwireyi’s faction. Allegations suggest they may have helped craft Chiwenga’s hard-hitting speech at the just-ended ZANU PF Annual Conference in Mutare — a speech widely interpreted as a thinly-veiled attack on Mnangagwa’s leadership.
The Vice-President’s address appeared to counter Justice Minister and ZANU PF Legal Affairs Secretary Ziyambi Ziyambi’s fiery politburo presentation, which had sharply criticised Chiwenga over his controversial “Vision 2030” policy document and his remarks on corruption within the party.
If true, the claim that Charamba had a hand in Chiwenga’s conference speech would mark a dramatic betrayal — reminiscent, some allege, of his role during Mugabe’s final days in power.
A Familiar Allegation of Betrayal
Charamba’s critics within Mnangagwa’s camp argue that his loyalties have shifted, accusing him of prioritising personal survival over principle. They note that, while Chiwenga often receives robust defence from Charamba on social media — sometimes through anonymous or pseudonymous accounts — Mnangagwa’s spokesperson is notably silent when his boss comes under public criticism.
Political sources claim Charamba’s communication style, often abrasive and combative online, mirrors his approach during Mugabe’s tenure, when he famously clashed with the late former First Lady Grace Mugabe and other G40 loyalists.
“History is repeating itself,” one senior party insider said. “Charamba seems to have mastered the art of surviving every regime change within ZANU PF by conveniently switching allegiance when it matters most.”
Mliswa’s Explosive Broadside
Independent MP Temba Mliswa, a vocal Mnangagwa loyalist and one of Chiwenga’s harshest critics, launched a blistering attack on Charamba in a social media post, accusing him of sabotaging the President from within.
“The guy has a history of betraying his principals,” Mliswa charged. “Mai Mugabe saw it and called him out before. His latest conduct when the President came under siege has been very telling. His lackadaisical approach is not just absence of passion — it’s deliberate sabotage.”
Mliswa also criticised Information Secretary Nick Mangwana, accusing him of weakness and failing to mount an effective communications strategy to defend the President amid escalating factional attacks.
“While rivals have shed diplomacy and humility, the President’s defenders are still tiptoeing around,” Mliswa said. “If that isn’t sabotage or selling out, it’s sheer ineffectiveness — all of which warrant one thing.”
Factional Tremors and a Muted Defence
ZANU PF sources say Mnangagwa’s inner circle is deeply divided. Some party officials view Charamba’s alleged proximity to Chiwenga as a strategic hedge against potential leadership change, while others see it as unforgivable treachery.
“Charamba insists there is no power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga,” a senior government official confided, “but everyone knows he doesn’t even believe that himself. It’s just his way of shielding himself from political crossfire.”
Charamba’s silence has become deafening at a time when succession politics have intensified. Mnangagwa’s allies are pushing for a two-year term extension to 2030, while Chiwenga’s camp — bolstered by the Mutare speech — is said to be quietly mobilising for a post-Mnangagwa transition.
Echoes of the Mugabe Era
For many observers, the current drama feels like déjà vu. Charamba played a central communications role during the 2017 power struggle between Mugabe’s G40 faction and the Lacoste camp led by Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. His shift in tone then mirrored political winds — a trait that earned him both admiration for cunning and condemnation for opportunism.
“Charamba has always been a survivor,” noted a political analyst in Harare. “But survivalism comes at a price. In a party where loyalty is currency, even a whiff of betrayal can end a career overnight.”
The Larger Picture: A Party at War with Itself
The latest infighting underscores the deep fractures within ZANU PF as it confronts questions over leadership renewal, legitimacy, and the economic crisis facing Zimbabwe.
While Mnangagwa’s allies insist he remains firmly in charge, Chiwenga’s recent rhetoric — and the public jabs traded between loyalists like Mliswa and Charamba — suggest a simmering internal conflict that could shape Zimbabwe’s political landscape heading into 2028.
In a party known for secrecy and discipline, this much public drama over who writes whose speech — and who truly serves the President — signals a new phase in the ruling party’s civil war.
The post Mnangagwa’s Allies Turn on Charamba Amid Claims He’s Backing Chiwenga in Escalating ZANU PF Power Rift first appeared on The Zimbabwe Mail.