AS the curtains come down on 2024, the Zimbabwe Independent revisits the biggest stories that made headlines on the fluid Zimbabwean political terrain.
One of the year’s highlights was President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assumption of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairmanship.
But there were also other key developments as chronicled below:
Chamisa's stunning resignation
Nelson Chamisa stunned his supporters by announcing a sabbatical from active politics, and bowing out as leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
This followed his second loss to Mnangagwa during the August 2023 polls. Chamisa claimed the CCC had been infiltrated by Zanu PF using his former ally, Sengezo Tshabangu.
In his resignation letter, Chamisa noted: “Just 12 days after the swearing-in of MPs and councillors, you saw the engineered emergence and sprouting of an impostor masquerading as an acting secretary-general of [the] CCC, a position and title that did not and does not exist in the opposition outfit.
“This is to officially, and under my hand, inform you fellow citizens of Zimbabwe and the world, that, with immediate effect, I no longer have anything to do with CCC.”
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Sikhala's two-year jail ordeal ends
Firebrand opposition activist Job Sikhala was acquitted after spending nearly two years in remand prison on a charge of incitement to public violence.
Sikhala's release was marked by jubilations within the civic society and his Zengeza West constituency.
He had been arrested on June 14, 2022 alongside Godfrey Sithole and 14 other CCC members from Nyatsime, Chitungwiza in connection with violent skirmishes at the funeral of slain activist Moreblessing Ali.
Tshabangu lays claim to ‘windfall’
After snatching the CCC from Chamisa, Tshabangu wrote to the government requesting the disbursement of a “windfall” due to the party under the Political Parties Finance Act.
The funds, amounting to US$1,6 million, are now at the centre of a fresh dispute.
Mnangagwa reshuffles cabinet
Mnangagwa reshuffled his cabinet, reassigning Winston Chitando as Mines and Mining Development minister. Daniel Garwe replaced Chitando at the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Zhemu Soda, former mines and mining development minister, was appointed the new minister for National Housing and Social Amenities.
Mnangagwa also appointed Musa Ncube as deputy minister of National Housing and Social Amenities and Headman Moyo as deputy minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs.
He moved Yeukai Simbanegavi from deputy minister of National Housing and Social Amenities to deputy minister of Energy and Power Development.
Mnangagwa reshuffles Politburo
Zanu PF national political commissar Mike Bimha was demoted and replaced by Munyaradzi Machacha, the former Principal of the Chitepo School of Ideology.
‘I am a constitutionalist’: Mnangagwa
As speculation reached the crescendo that Mnangagwa, whose second term ends in 2028, had ambitions to prolong his rule, he announced that he would abide by the constitution and step down at the end of his term. He made the remarks while addressing party supporters in Mutare.
Retired military officers die
Retired Brigadier-Generals Michael Chaminuka and Lameck Mutanda, as well as Colonel Andrew Kabaira, died. Chaminuka and Mutanda were declared national heroes.
Chaminuka, once a senior staffer in Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s office when he was army commander, died on July 13 after a short illness. Mutanda, who was based in the United Kingdom, was buried in the UK. Kabaira succumbed to a short illness on July 21 at an army hospital.
Mnangagwa's Sadc coronation
Mnangagwa assumed the rotational chairmanship role of the 16-member bloc. He received the official Sadc badge and gavel at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden. In his acceptance speech, Mnangagwa showered regional leaders with praise for standing with Zimbabwe in the face of Western-imposed sanctions, while expressing commitment to deepen integration within the bloc.
Resolution on Mnangagwa's term
Despite Mnangagwa's public disclosures that he has no intention to cling on to power beyond 2028, Zanu PF resolved to push for the President's term extension. Though the resolution is being subtly resisted within the party, all the party’s 10 provinces backed the decision, as well as other key Zanu PF structures.
However, Mnangagwa declined the offer. The party’s secretary for legal affairs, Patrick Chinamasa stated at the conference that the resolution “will not go anywhere”, emphasising that Mnangagwa was against the move.
He said he had consulted Mnangagwa regarding the matter on three separate occasions, during which the president consistently stated his intention to honour the constitution.
“I asked again for a meeting mid-September and I was given the same answer. I asked for another meeting on Tuesday and I was given the same answer. He said he is a constitutionalist and will abide by the constitution which limits presidential terms and has no intention of serving beyond 2028,” Chinamasa said at the conference in October.
“Of all the resolutions, this is the one that cannot be implemented without the express consent and agreement of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“It should be understood that this resolution will not proceed any further.”
Dube dies, declared national hero
Outspoken former War Veterans minister Colonel (Rtd) Tshinga Dube died after succumbing to kidney failure.
He was conferred with national hero status and his remains were interred at the National Heroes Acre.
Jameson Timba is freed
Interim leader of a faction of the breakaway CCC, Timba and 30 others were freed after spending more than five months in remand prison on charges of promoting violence.
Former VP Mphoko dies
Former vice president Phelekezela Mphoko died at the age of 84 after succumbing to pulmonary embolism while in India. Mphoko was declared a national hero.
A decorated veteran of Zimbabwe’s independence struggle, Mphoko held various diplomatic roles, which saw him being stationed in Russia and South Africa among other countries.
During his vice presidency, Mphoko coalesced around the G40 faction fronted by the late Robert Mugabe, which was involved in a fierce tussle for power by a grouping backing the former president’s then deputy, Mnangagwa.
Zanu PF youth league squabbles
Zanu PF's national secretary for youth affairs Tino Machakaire made new appointments, sparking tension within the party.
The move was seen as not being in line with the Zanu PF constitution.
Machakaire’s sweeping changes torched tension in the party with his deputy John Paradza, citing that the move was not in line with the Zanu PF constitution.
Chamisa to form new party
Chamisa announced that he plans to launch a new party in 2025, which he said would usher a new beginning. He called on his supporters to be patient with him.
