MUTARE – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Friday delivered a fiery address at the ZANU PF Annual People’s Conference in Mutare, launching yet another stinging rebuke against corruption and moral decay within the ruling party and government. Speaking before thousands of delegates, Chiwenga used his platform to defend his anti-corruption stance and call for unity, discipline, and integrity among party members — even as tensions within ZANU PF continue to simmer.
The Vice President, visibly resolute, warned that corruption and greed were eating away at the core of Zimbabwe’s revolutionary values, describing them as “the new enemy within.” He said those who enriched themselves at the expense of the people had betrayed the ideals of the liberation struggle.
“Corruption is not only an economic crime — it is a moral sin,” Chiwenga declared. “It cripples our progress, destroys trust, and dishonours the memory of our liberation heroes who sacrificed everything for this country.”
His remarks came amid reports of growing divisions within the ruling party, particularly following his recent anti-corruption crusade. Over the past months, Chiwenga has been vocal in denouncing what he has called “zvigananda” — parasitic elites who feed off public resources while ordinary citizens struggle to make ends meet.
According to party insiders, the Vice President recently presented a dossier to the ZANU PF Politburo, naming several senior officials allegedly involved in corruption and calling for their prosecution. The move sparked an internal storm, prompting Justice Minister and ZANU PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi to issue a sharp rebuttal during this week’s politburo meeting.
The situation escalated further on Thursday when ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, who is also a presidential hopeful, held a press conference in Harare where he accused Chiwenga of “grandstanding” and “dividing the party” with his repeated corruption allegations.
Chiwenga Fires Another Broadside at Critics, Corrupt Officials During ZANU PF Conference
Undeterred, Chiwenga used the Mutare conference podium to double down on his message. Framing his remarks within the conference’s theme, “Attainment of Vision 2030 Through Economic Empowerment and Value Addition,” he stressed that Zimbabwe’s development goals could not be achieved without moral reform and transparency.
“Vision 2030 must be about empowering the people genuinely — not enriching a few at the top,” he said. “True empowerment gives every Zimbabwean the ability to produce, innovate, and determine their own destiny. That is the essence of revolutionary continuity.”
Chiwenga went on to remind delegates that leadership was a responsibility, not an entitlement. “We must remember that we are not the Alpha and Omega of Zimbabwe’s story,” he said. “We are torchbearers, carrying forward the vision of those who came before us. Some, like the late General Josiah Magama Tongogara, fought knowing they might never see a free Zimbabwe, yet they pressed on because they believed in the future.”
He described Vision 2030 — President Mnangagwa’s blueprint for transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy — as a “national covenant” that required collective honesty and sacrifice rather than personal ambition.
The Vice President also reflected on the symbolic significance of holding the conference in Manicaland Province, a region he said was “sacred ground” in Zimbabwe’s liberation history.
“These mountains and valleys were the crossing points for thousands of young sons and daughters of our soil,” he said. “Through these routes, they made their way to Mozambique to join the liberation struggle. Many never returned — they perished with hope in their hearts, believing their sacrifices would give birth to a prosperous and dignified Zimbabwe.”
Chiwenga’s tone grew more emotional as he invoked the spirit of the fallen heroes. “Their blood still cries from the soil, demanding honesty, service, and unity from us,” he said to applause. “They call out against corruption, laziness, and moral decay. The bond between the party and the people must remain unbroken. The same unity that sustained the struggle must now drive us toward development and self-reliance.”
His speech, though measured, was seen as another veiled warning to corrupt officials within the party hierarchy. Political analysts at the conference noted that Chiwenga’s message reflected a growing rift between reformists who want to cleanse the party’s image and entrenched power brokers resistant to internal scrutiny.
Delegates from across the provinces listened intently as the Vice President urged discipline, loyalty, and collective effort in achieving national goals. He emphasized that ZANU PF’s success in implementing Vision 2030 would depend on leaders leading by example.
“We cannot speak of Vision 2030 when our hands are dirty. The people look to us for leadership and integrity. We must rise above greed and self-interest,” Chiwenga said.
Despite the simmering political tensions, the Vice President’s address was met with standing applause from sections of the audience, particularly from war veterans and youth representatives who have consistently supported his anti-corruption message.
Chiwenga concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to President Mnangagwa and the ruling party but stressed that loyalty must never come at the expense of truth and moral duty. “ZANU PF was built on the foundation of sacrifice and service,” he said. “We must return to that ethos if we are to secure a prosperous Zimbabwe for future generations.”
As the conference continues, all eyes remain on how Chiwenga’s bold statements will shape the internal dynamics of the ruling party — and whether his call for integrity will ignite genuine reform or deepen existing divisions.
Source- ZimEye
