Factional Firestorm: Mutsvangwa’s Explosive Leaked Audio Tears into Chiwenga

Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU PF has been rocked by fresh internal strife after a secret audio recording of party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa surfaced, exposing deep divisions between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

In the damning recording, leaked by UK-based investigative unit Dug Up, Mutsvangwa delivers a scathing assessment of Chiwenga, branding him “cruel, unelectable, and uneducated,” while ridiculing his inability to distinguish between the letters “R” and “L” in speech.

The explosive revelation sheds light on the growing power struggle ahead of the party’s next elective congress and the 2028 presidential race.

Chiwenga, a former army general hailed as a national hero after leading the coup that toppled Robert Mugabe in 2017, has long been seen as a key contender for the presidency.

However, according to Mutsvangwa, the VP is now desperate to secure an unchallenged endorsement as Mnangagwa’s successor—a move the president is reportedly resisting.

“This guy wants to be anointed as the President’s successor. He wants to remove him, but while in the process of removing him, he is saying the President should anoint him. How do you do that?” Mutsvangwa is heard saying in the recording.

Mnangagwa, according to the ZANU PF spokesperson, is pushing for an open contest within the party rather than a direct handover of power.

His refusal to anoint Chiwenga could spell a brutal political showdown as the race for 2028 heats up.

Beyond internal party politics, Mutsvangwa claims Chiwenga’s troubled personal life—particularly his highly publicized divorce from ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa—has tainted his leadership credentials.

Mubaiwa, who has lost limbs due to a severe illness, has spent years battling court charges and has been denied access to her children.

“Half of the electorate are women in this country, and you have decapitated the limbs of your former wife through cruelty,” Mutsvangwa says in the audio.

“You are refusing her to see her children. When Number One (Mnangagwa) tries to pardon her, you refuse.”

Mutsvangwa argues that Chiwenga’s harsh treatment of Mubaiwa has alienated Zimbabwean women, making him unelectable.

In an even more stinging remark, Mutsvangwa takes aim at Chiwenga’s education, dismissing him as an unlearned man who lacks intellectual depth.

“The letter R comes from the mother, the L comes from a teacher—that is the basic litmus test of an illiterate Shona person,” he says mockingly, implying that Chiwenga’s failure to pronounce certain words correctly is a reflection of his lack of education.

“Going to war is no substitute for illiteracy and ignorance. We went to war from universities,” he adds, further undercutting Chiwenga’s credentials.

Rumors of a secret pact between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga—wherein the latter was allegedly promised leadership—have long circulated within political circles.

However, this supposed agreement was derailed in 2023, and now, as the 2028 elections approach, the power struggle appears to be resurfacing.

With tensions flaring and backroom maneuvering intensifying, ZANU PF faces another internal war that could shape the party’s future.

The full investigation, presented by journalist Maynard Manyowa, is available on YouTube.