Prominent political activist Freeman Chari has issued a strong caution to opposition supporters, urging them to avoid being drawn into the ongoing ZANU-PF factional wars.
Chari argues that the battle between the camp supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid for a 2030 term extension and the rival faction backing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is merely a distraction masking an underlying military dictatorship.
Writing on the social media platform X, Chari maintained that as long as the current military-backed establishment holds power and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) manages polls, Zimbabwe will never achieve free and fair elections.
Chari’s warning comes as the long-simmering tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga spilled into the public domain through sharp clashes in the ZANU-PF Politburo.
Chiwenga has reportedly accused the President’s close circle—including prominent figures like Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Delish Nguwaya, Pedzai Sakupwanya, and Wicknell Chivayo—of rampant corruption and orchestrating state capture.
Mnangagwa has responded forcefully, publicly dismissing his deputy with comments describing Chiwenga as “ignorant,” prone to “emotional outbursts,” “immature,” and “not a good follower.” The President suggested Chiwenga lacked understanding of basic democratic principles or the distinction between civilian and military conduct, proposing a reorientation course at the Chitepo School of Ideology for the entire Politburo and Central Committee.
Chari dismissed the idea that exposing Chiwenga’s transgressions amounts to supporting Mnangagwa’s constitutional manipulations. He reminded supporters that Chiwenga was an integral part of the ZANU-PF Praesidium when ZEC allegedly oversaw widespread irregularities in the 2018 and 2023 elections.
“Zimbabwe is a military dictatorship. As long as Chiwenga, ED, ZANU, and ZEC are there, there is no constitution or 2028 elections,” Chari wrote.
He highlighted numerous instances where Chiwenga was in a position of power while controversial electoral and constitutional decisions were made, including:
- The alleged manipulation of the 2018 poll results.
- The unconstitutional extension of former Chief Justice Malaba’s term.
- ZEC’s refusal to release the voters’ roll and the creation of dubious polling stations before the 2023 elections.
- The controversial role of Sengezo Tshabangu and the delimitation exercise that “blatantly and flagrantly disregarded the constitution.”
Chari concluded by stating there is “no indication that with or without Mnangagwa, the mutilation of the constitution will stop.” He stressed that clamouring about protecting a future 2028 election is pointless when the entire system is controlled by the military.
“We proved beyond a reasonable doubt that elections under the current system, led by ED and Chiwenga, run by the military, will always be a sham,” Chari affirmed. He called for a focus on “organising alternative means of removing them completely,” rather than participating in the false political theatre.