Chiwenga Questions Zanu PF’s Direction As State Media Footage Disappears
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s pointed address at the Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi has reportedly disappeared from state-owned media platforms. NewZimbabwe.com reports that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and Star FM removed footage of the speech after Chiwenga questioned whether the ruling party was genuinely listening to ordinary Zimbabweans.
The reported deletions came after Chiwenga delivered remarks about governance, political reforms and the need for the ruling party to reflect on its performance. His speech preceded President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s address as guest of honour at the conference.
Chiwenga Questions Zanu PF’s Commitment To Reform
Chiwenga reminded delegates of the principles behind the Second Republic and questioned whether the party was repeating mistakes it had previously promised to correct.
He said:
“Let us not forget that the Second Republic was founded on the pursuit of renewal, reform and a results-based governance and national development.”
He then challenged party members to examine whether their resolutions reflected the needs of ordinary citizens.
In remarks delivered partly in Shona, Chiwenga asked whether the party was returning to practices that had contributed to past failures.
ZBC And Star FM Reportedly Remove Speech Footage
NewZimbabwe.com reports that Star FM initially restricted comments on a social media post about the address before deleting a video of the speech. ZBC subsequently removed the footage from its platforms, the publication noted.
The broadcaster’s initial coverage reportedly concentrated on Chiwenga’s references to liberation war battles fought in Chinhoyi, leaving out his broader remarks about the party’s direction.
The incident has drawn attention to the political significance of Chiwenga’s address, particularly given Zimbabwe’s history of tensions within the ruling party. In 2017, his public intervention calling for constitutionalism preceded Robert Mugabe’s departure from power following military intervention.