A Seat Close to Power, But Never in It

In this episode of Spotlight on Zimbabwe, Violet Gonda unpacks the enduring paradox of the vice presidency, a role that promises proximity to power but seldom leads to the top. Since its creation in 1987, nine vice presidents have served Zimbabwe, yet only one, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has risen to the presidency and only through a military coup rather than democratic succession.

The Fall of a Kingmaker

The story focuses on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, once the general who helped orchestrate Mnangagwa’s 2017 rise. Despite his instrumental role, Chiwenga’s own ambitions have been thwarted. At the October 2025 ZANU-PF conference, delegates endorsed extending President Mnangagwa’s term from 2028 to 2030, effectively sidelining Chiwenga’s prospects and exposing the futility of loyalty in Zimbabwe’s political hierarchy.

Constitutional Limits and Their Manipulation

With ZANU-PF’s parliamentary supermajority, tight control over the judiciary, and dominance of key state institutions, constitutional changes appear inevitable. The episode raises pressing questions about the rule of law, succession, and whether constitutional limits mean anything in Zimbabwe’s current political landscape.

The Rise of the Kingmakers

Violet also previews the next episode, which investigates the “kingmakers”, politically connected elites and business figures who secure lucrative state contracts and funnel their profits back into the system to keep Mnangagwa entrenched in power.

A Reflection on Power and Loyalty

Ultimately, the episode argues that in Zimbabwe, the vice presidency has become a symbol of stagnation rather than succession – a political position that is, as the title suggests, always the bridesmaid, never the bride.