The Gambakwe Morning Update for December 11, 2025, focused on the apparent reconciliation between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, signaling an end to internal ZANU-PF conflicts ahead of the critical 2028 election cycle, while mourning the passing of musician Nicholas Zakaria.
Key Stories
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Mnangagwa and Chiwenga Reconciliation: The public disputes that characterized the relationship between President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga earlier in the year appear to be over, with the two men now frequently appearing together and showing renewed unity.
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End of 2030 Talk: The public discourse regarding President Mnangagwa potentially extending his term beyond 2030 has suddenly ceased, suggesting a clear path for a successor, likely Chiwenga, to take over leadership.
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Military Fuel Crisis in South Africa: The South African military is reportedly facing a critical fuel shortage, currently holding only 25% of its strategic reserve requirements, forcing them to rely heavily on private suppliers.
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YouTuber Claims Knowledge of Chimama’s Poisoner: Zimbabwean YouTuber Rumbidzai Takawira (Rumbidzai) claims to know the identity of the person who poisoned the late socialite and fellow YouTuber, Chimama, urging people to be wary of strangers on social media.
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Madzibaba Nicholas Zakaria’s Passing: The morning update shared the sad news of the passing of legendary Zimbabwean musician, Nicholas Zakaria ( Zakaria), after a period of struggling with diabetes and other illnesses.
The most significant political development highlighted is the “improving relationship” between President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga. The tension and “fighting” that occurred at the beginning of 2025 seem to have been resolved, with the leaders now appearing comfortable around each other, as evidenced by their joint attendance at events like the Chiefs’ Conference. This newfound unity suggests that “whatever was happening earlier this year where people were pitting Mnangagwa against Chiwenga is coming to an end”. The analysis concludes that Chiwenga is now likely “considered and accepted as being next in line in ZANU-PF”.
Coupled with this, the narrative surrounding the President’s possible extension of his term, known as “2030,” has abruptly stopped. The analyst notes that this talk has “ended” and “is over,” suggesting a firm agreement or “negotiation has taken place behind the scenes” to ensure a peaceful transition of power, with one man “coming in and the other one is going out”. This peace is positioned as a strategic move to ensure ZANU-PF, which is described as an “election winning machine,” can work together to maintain and keep power in the 2028 elections.
The update also covered a range of other topics, including the shocking news of the passing of musician Nicholas Zakaria. Furthermore, the conversation touched on the critical fuel shortage in the South African military and the ongoing Mahlangu Commission, which saw commissioners visit the family of a deceased witness (Witness D). A key social discussion centered on YouTuber Rumbidzai Takawira’s claims regarding the poisoning of the late Chimama, using the story to warn the public against meeting unverified contacts from social media, a lesson that the host agreed with, advising people to “meet verified people”.
Conclusion
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The unity between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga is a significant signal ahead of the 2028 elections.
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ZANU-PF is expected to leverage this unity to focus entirely on its election-winning strategy.
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The political drama of 2025 is largely viewed as over, marking a period of peace among ZANU-PF players.
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The host strongly encourages President Mnangagwa to release political prisoners to ensure national peace and uphold human rights.
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Condolences are extended to the family and fans of the late musician Nicholas Zakaria.
