Former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has ignited controversy after alleging that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s recent push to have flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo arrested is not motivated by genuine anti-corruption concerns but instead by personal disputes linked to unpaid financial promise
Posting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Mliswa accused Chiwenga of using the anti-corruption narrative as a cover for what is essentially a personal vendetta against Chivayo, once considered one of his close business allies. The outspoken former Zanu-PF MP said the falling-out between the two men can be traced back to the vice president’s high-profile wedding to Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi in 2022, a ceremony that was widely reported as one of the most extravagant social events of the year.
According to Mliswa, Chiwenga had approached Chivayo with extensive demands ahead of the wedding, which included six Rolls-Royce luxury vehicles and a staggering cash pledge of US$250,000 to cover wedding expenses. While Chivayo reportedly honoured part of these commitments — supplying vehicles, funding some of the events, and contributing towards the honeymoon in the Seychelles — an outstanding balance of US$150,000 became the breaking point.
Mliswa further alleged that Chivayo had also provided gifts and even contributed towards securing apartments for Chiwenga’s relatives, underscoring how deeply the businessman was involved in the vice president’s personal affairs. However, when the outstanding money was not delivered in time, Mliswa claims the relationship collapsed irreparably, transforming a previously warm alliance into a bitter feud.
“From day one I argued that the VP’s move was steeped in politics and a revenge move rather than actually fighting corruption,” Mliswa wrote in his post. “A failure to promptly fulfil a financial promise is what irretrievably broke the relationship.”
The timing of these allegations is politically significant. Chiwenga has in recent months sought to reposition himself as a key figure in Zimbabwe’s succession matrix, presenting himself as a reformist willing to confront corruption and dismantle the powerful business networks tied to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. By moving against Chivayo, who has become a prominent beneficiary of government contracts in the energy, defence, and health sectors, Chiwenga has sought to signal that he is serious about curbing patronage and misuse of state resources.
Mliswa Claims Chiwenga’s Push to Arrest Chivayo Stems from Wedding Fallout, Not Anti-Corruption Drive
Yet Mliswa’s claims complicate this narrative, suggesting that the supposed clean-up campaign is not entirely driven by governance concerns but may instead be a politically convenient vehicle to settle personal scores. For observers, the allegations underscore the deeply intertwined nature of Zimbabwe’s politics and business community, where state contracts, personal relationships, and factional battles frequently overlap.
Chivayo himself has in recent years cultivated an image as a loyal ally of President Mnangagwa, publicly endorsing the ruling party and often flaunting his wealth on social media. His visibility, combined with his access to lucrative state projects, has made him both admired and resented within the ruling establishment. For Chiwenga, a confrontation with Chivayo is therefore not just a personal matter but also a political maneuver with implications for Zanu-PF’s internal balance of power.
The vice president’s critics argue that his sudden emphasis on tackling corruption may be selective, targeting individuals aligned with Mnangagwa while sparing those within his own networks. Mliswa, who has built a reputation as a vocal critic of both government and opposition figures, framed the dispute as proof that Zimbabwe’s elite often mask personal and financial quarrels under the guise of national interest.
“Corruption is only tackled when it suits the factional agenda,” Mliswa suggested in follow-up remarks, insisting that the public deserves honesty about what truly drives such high-profile confrontations.
As of Tuesday, neither Chiwenga nor Chivayo had publicly responded to the allegations. The silence has only fueled speculation within political circles, with many waiting to see if Chivayo will leverage his proximity to Mnangagwa for protection or if Chiwenga will press ahead with efforts to sideline him under the anti-corruption banner.
The saga plays out against the backdrop of an intensifying succession debate within Zanu-PF, where factions aligned to both Chiwenga and Mnangagwa are seeking to strengthen their positions ahead of the 2028 elections. With the ruling party already under pressure to address economic decline, currency instability, and growing social discontent, internal disputes of this magnitude threaten to further erode cohesion within the leadership.
For ordinary Zimbabweans, Mliswa’s claims may reinforce long-standing suspicions that anti-corruption drives are often weaponized as political tools rather than genuine efforts to reform governance. The image of a senior state leader allegedly embroiled in disputes over luxury cars, million-dollar weddings, and unpaid cash pledges highlights the stark disconnect between the political elite and the economic hardships faced by the majority of citizens.
Whether or not Mliswa’s account proves accurate, the fallout between Chiwenga and Chivayo represents more than a personal quarrel. It has become a prism through which broader struggles within the ruling establishment are being refracted — struggles that will likely shape Zimbabwe’s political trajectory in the years to come.
Source- Bulawayo24
