Here is a summary of the key points Gambakwe is making:
- Political Maneuvering Against Chiwenga
- Gambakwe asserts that President Mnangagwa is reportedly planning to deploy VP Chiwenga to either China or Russia as a non-resident ambassador [00:23]. This move is interpreted as a strategy to remove Chiwenga from the country, thereby neutralizing him as a political threat ahead of the ZANU-PF elective congress.
- The Power Struggle
- The core of the discussion is the power struggle between the Mnangagwa faction and the Chiwenga faction (or what some call the “Team Lacoste” vs. the “Chiwenga faction”).
- The deployment is seen as a way to “sideline” Chiwenga [01:03] and is believed to be a strategy to avoid a political challenge at the upcoming ZANU-PF Congress.
- A “Soft Landing” for Chiwenga
- Gambakwe suggests that giving Chiwenga a foreign posting is a “soft landing” and a diplomatic way to remove him from the domestic political scene without a direct public confrontation [01:14]. This keeps Chiwenga in a high-profile role, but one that is politically sterile regarding ZANU-PF’s internal succession battles.
- Historical Context and Mnangagwa’s Strategy
- The report touches upon Mnangagwa’s previous use of foreign postings to manage rivals, referencing the late Robert Mugabe’s history. Mnangagwa is seen as consolidating his power by removing influential figures who might challenge his authority [01:45].
In essence, Gambakwe is reporting on a significant political development in Zimbabwean politics: the alleged plan by President Mnangagwa to use a diplomatic posting to neutralize his primary political challenger, Vice President Chiwenga.
