Maximilian Lion, a Zimbabwean blogger, asserts that if Vice President Constantino Chiwenga orchestrated the removal of Zimbabwe’s late founding leader, Robert Mugabe, from power in 2017, then he must strategise a reversal and restore power to the people in line with the liberation war struggle’s objectives.
Lion’s comments follow the testimony of South African medical doctor Willi Leo Sieling, who claimed that Mary Mubaiwa, the former wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, confided in him about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s alleged attempt to assassinate his deputy in 2018.
According to Lion, Chiwenga may have been betrayed, and therefore, he should not feel obligated to protect individuals who benefited from Mugabe’s demise. He said on Twitter:
A proposal for General V.P Chiwenga in light of the evidence adduced during a trial in which a Doctor said under oath that there was a plan to assassinate him when he was in hospital.
The evidence implies that some of the beneficiaries of the 2017 coup were dishonest players. Had the coup failed, most of the people who made the 2017 – 2023 cabinet would have faced treason trials under Mugabe and a meeting with their maker.
The chief beneficiary of the coup only appeared on the scene when the heavy lifting had been done.
The evidence submitted in court infers that there was a great betrayal and deception among the coup players. While others courageously accepted the risk that came with the coup of potentially losing their lives, others saw it as a means to an end while there was no risk to their lives because they were in hiding.
Whether you supported the coup or not, one can’t help but see a pattern of deception which goes back decades. It is disgusting in all the circumstances. The more one thinks about this, the more one sees a potential avenue for the betrayed to redeem himself in the eyes of the country.
What General V.P Chiwenga could do is acknowledge that he took a great risk for a mission which made life worse for the country and its people. But he can do something about it. He can correct this situation by putting the country back in the position it was before the 2017 coup.
He can go further and do even better by ensuring that power goes back to the people in alignment with the objectives of the liberation war struggle. He can establish a genuine republic with accountability and separation of powers.
How is he going to do this is the question many people will be asking? The answer is, only he knows. He knows the challenges that stand in his way. We can only speculate as to the risk but he knows precisely the obstacles before him.
If he masterminded what happened in 2017, he can strategise a reversal of the process. This is more than a duty to the country, the people who are suffering and all the lives that were sacrificed during the liberation war. A reversal of the coup of 2017 could be a launch pad for Zimbabwe’s transformation.
If he can pull this off, the event could prove to be the biggest in Zimbabwe’s history. If he were to do this, he could go down as the most influential Zimbabwean to ever live. His legacy in the history books will be guaranteed for the next 1000 years and beyond. Zimbabweans would be willing to forgive the drama of 2017 for returning to order.
He added that the proposal is driven by the realisation of Zimbabwe’s immense challenges and another five years of the same would be disastrous. He said the country has reached a critical point with wasted potential. Other countries with fewer resources have achieved better organization adding that people deserve a functional country, accountable government, and ethical leadership. He is sceptical that elections will bring change as the process is biased. He says the upcoming elections won’t be fair, leaving Zimbabwe in a difficult situation. The country lacks a democratic model for solutions. He says General V.P. Chiwenga understands the power dynamics.
Unsubstantiated reports suggest an agreement between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, wherein the former would vacate his position to allow his deputy to assume the presidency upon the conclusion of his final term. This potential scenario adds complexity to the situation. The question arises whether Chiwenga will demonstrate selflessness and relinquish the opportunity to become president, granting power to a civilian. If Mnangagwa emerges victorious in the presidential election on August 23, he will remain president until at least 2028. Previously, he ambiguously stated he will still be around by 2030, leaving the intention behind his remark unclear, whether it was a joke or a serious declaration.