HARARE – Former ZANU PF legislator Temba Mliswa says his car was broken into just days after he publicly accused Vice President Constantino Chiwenga of pursuing businessman Wicknell Chivayo for personal gain rather than in the interest of fighting corruption.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Mliswa described the incident as an attempt at intimidation but vowed not to be silenced.
“They came and broke into my car, but I’m not one to fear or be intimidated by these theatrics. Ndakatofukwa naMwari neMidzimu. Whoever does anything will face the consequences, just like former Commissioner Chihuri or President Mugabe whom I once warned in a letter. Sending thugs won’t work. We move!” Mliswa wrote.
Explosive Allegations Against Chiwenga
The outspoken former legislator has recently alleged that Chiwenga’s drive to have Chivayo arrested stems not from anti-corruption zeal but from unpaid personal debts linked to the Vice President’s lavish wedding to Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi.
According to Mliswa, Chiwenga demanded six Rolls Royces and US$250,000 in cash for the wedding preparations, with Chivayo allegedly footing part of the bill. On the wedding day, the couple is said to have received another US$250,000, although only US$50,000 was publicly declared.
The allegations do not stop there. Mliswa claims Chivayo bankrolled a US$250,000 honeymoon at the Four Seasons resort in Seychelles, provided R1 million for shopping in South Africa, and gave another R1 million for Chiwenga to buy a gift for his wife.
The fallout reportedly deepened when Chiwenga allegedly requested US$450,000 to purchase apartments for his children. While Chivayo is said to have delivered US$300,000, the outstanding US$150,000 became a flashpoint in their deteriorating relationship.
Factional Blame Games
Chiwenga, who has attempted to cast himself as a crusader against corruption, has focused his attacks on Chivayo — a flamboyant businessman closely linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and controversially awarded multi-million-dollar state contracts. Opposition figures argue that these corruption allegations are less about accountability and more about a brutal internal war over ZANU PF succession.
They came& broke into my car but I’m not one to fear or be intimidated by these theatrics. Ndakatofukwa naMwari neMidzimu. Whoever does anything it will also find him just like former Comm Chihuri or Pres Mugabe whom I warned in a letter. Sending thugs won’t work. We move! pic.twitter.com/9sBcD4NI99
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) October 1, 2025
Mliswa himself has faced accusations of political opportunism, with war veteran Blessed Geza alleging that he is being funded by Mnangagwa’s camp to attack Chiwenga. Mliswa has dismissed the claims, insisting his allegations are accurate and “would stand up to the rigorous test of truth in a court of law.”
Succession Battles Intensify
The revelations underscore the intensifying ZANU PF succession battle, with Chiwenga seeking to position himself as an anti-corruption enforcer while simultaneously facing allegations of extravagant spending and abuse of patronage. Chivayo, meanwhile, remains shielded by his proximity to Mnangagwa, despite repeated scandals surrounding his state tenders.
Neither Chiwenga nor Chivayo has responded to the latest claims, but the silence is only fuelling speculation.
For many Zimbabweans, the Mliswa-Chiwenga-Chivayo saga is further proof that the ruling elite are consumed by power struggles and corruption while ordinary citizens face economic collapse, hunger, and unemployment.
As one Harare resident told this paper: “They fight over Rolls Royces and millions of dollars, while we cannot even afford mealie meal. This is the true face of ZANU PF.”
