ZANU-PF veteran leader, Rugare Gumbo has claimed to have “worked hand in glove” with Mnangagwa And Chiwenga,  and says Mnangagwa has emerged a clear victor. Writing on X, Gumbo said:

As someone who worked hand in glove with these gentleman, I wish to inform the public that they mustn’t expect much from Chiwenga as he has already been outsmarted by Mnangagwa Emmerson. The only move left for him is to dance to tow Mnangagwa’s line or resign as his Vice.

Timeline of Rugare Gumbo’s Career:

A timeline of Rugare Gumbo’s career, based on the provided information, is as follows:

• Born: 8 March 1940, in Mberengwa (then Belingwe district), Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
• Early Teens: Involved in nationalist politics.
• Age 22 (c. 1962): Was a branch chairman of the ZAPU party in Fort Victoria (now Masvingo), under Joshua Nkomo.
• 1962–1964: Was jailed under the Law and Order Maintenance Act.
• 1964: Met Robert Mugabe in prison.
• During the Second Chimurenga (Liberation War): Served as the Secretary of Information in the Dare reChimurenga (War Council), working under Herbert Chitepo. He is noted as the only surviving member of the Dare reChimurenga as of late 2014.
• March 1975: Detained in Zambia.
• 1975: Was arrested and detained, along with other colleagues, on allegations of being involved in the assassination of Herbert Chitepo. He was imprisoned with others including Henry Hamadziripi, Kumbirai Kangai, and Mukudzei Mudzi.
• 16 October 1976: Released from detention.
• 1978: Was part of a group (the Hamadziripi group) arrested and sent to an island detention in Mozambique following an attempted coup/revolt in ZANU. He was held captive in a deep pit.
• 1979: Was released due to intervention by the British ahead of national independence, and later aligned with Ndabaningi Sithole’s Zanu-Ndonga.
• January 1980: Gave interviews to the Rhodesia Herald ahead of the March elections, which were seen by some as an attempt to de-campaign Robert Mugabe.
• Post-2000: Got back into favour and joined the government.
• April 2005: Appointed as Minister of Economic Development following the March 2005 parliamentary election.
• 19 April 2006: Launched the National Economic Development Priority Programme (NEDPP).
• February 2007: Appointed as Minister of Agriculture.
• 2007–2014: Served as the ZANU-PF Spokesman (Spokesman for the Politburo).
• January 2009: Dismissed from the Cabinet (Minister of Agriculture) as he no longer held a seat in Parliament.
• 14 November 2014: Suspended from ZANU-PF for five years with immediate effect.
• December 2014: Expelled from ZANU-PF for continued attacks on President Robert Mugabe.
• 2015: Became a founding member and elder of a new political party, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF), which later disbanded after differences with Joice Mujuru.