Deputy President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Colonel Minyothabo Baloyi, has been thrust into the centre of Zanu-PF’s escalating succession battles, following allegations by outspoken former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa that she is using her military influence to bolster her husband’s presidential ambitions.
Mliswa, who has in recent months intensified his attacks on Chiwenga and other senior figures in the ruling party, claimed that Baloyi — a senior officer in the Military Intelligence Department (MID) — was operating a “parallel intelligence structure” that undermines President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority. He alleged that Baloyi’s position in the army has become entangled with the Vice President’s political aspirations, thereby compromising both the neutrality of the security services and the stability of Zanu-PF.
“We have the wife of the Vice President, who is part of the army’s intelligence unit, MID,” Mliswa said in a recent statement. “That being the case, she certainly has the interests of her husband, who is eager to become president. She is running a parallel structure, and it’s important that the President knows this. The commander of MID does not tolerate her, yet she still operates independently. You cannot have a parallel structure from a security perspective.”
The former lawmaker’s comments followed the dramatic power outage that disrupted President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the new Parliament Building earlier this week. The incident forced the Head of State to finish his speech under torchlight — an embarrassing spectacle that sparked widespread speculation. Mliswa claimed the blackout was an act of internal sabotage allegedly orchestrated by elements loyal to Chiwenga.
“These are not coincidences,” he said. “There are people within the system who are deliberately trying to embarrass the President. It’s high time those responsible are exposed.”
Colonel Baloyi has largely kept a low public profile, despite being married to one of the country’s most powerful political figures. Known for her philanthropic work and disciplined demeanor, she has rarely spoken in public and has never openly declared any political ambitions. However, her continued service in the army while being the Vice President’s spouse has long drawn whispers of potential conflict of interest — concerns that Mliswa has now amplified.
“She cannot remain in military office as the wife of the Vice President,” Mliswa argued. “When people see her, they see him. How do you expect them not to take instructions from her? It blurs the lines between the military and political structures.”
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The timing of the accusations is significant, coming amid intensifying factional tensions within Zanu-PF. Party insiders say two main camps have emerged — one loyal to President Mnangagwa, who is reportedly considering constitutional changes to extend his rule beyond 2028, and another aligned with Chiwenga, who is seen as the natural successor should Mnangagwa step down at the end of his current term.
The succession question has long haunted Zanu-PF, especially given the delicate balance of power between the military and civilian wings of the party. Chiwenga, a retired commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, played a central role in the 2017 military-assisted transition that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe and installed Mnangagwa as president. However, relations between the two men have since reportedly cooled, with whispers of rivalry surfacing in both political and security circles.
While Baloyi has not responded to Mliswa’s claims, analysts believe the allegations reflect the broader struggle for influence ahead of the next Zanu-PF congress. Some observers view Mliswa’s remarks as an attempt to expose simmering divisions within the ruling elite, while others interpret them as part of a coordinated campaign to discredit Chiwenga’s camp.
For now, the military has not commented on the matter, and there has been no official response from the Vice President’s office. But Mliswa’s explosive claims have reignited debate about the growing intersection of politics, security, and personal relationships at the highest levels of power — a combination that continues to shape Zimbabwe’s complex political landscape.
Source- Bulawayo24
