Patrick Chinamasa, a former cabinet minister for Zanu PF, the ruling party of Zimbabwe, found himself at conflict with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which had a major negative impact on his political career. Chinamasa has been removed from his esteemed position as Treasury General, according to NewsDay reports, following a heated argument over accusations of meddling in local governance matters with Cabinet members.
Chinamasa’s steadfast support of his claimed associates, former chief executive Edward Pise and chairperson David Guy Mutasa of the Makoni Rural District Council, who were suspended due to corruption allegations, is the main focus of the debate. Allegations of land theft in Nyazura against Pise, who had held the job for more than 30 years, and Mutasa prompted former Local Government minister Winstone Chitando to send out an investigative team at the beginning of the year. Still, the investigation met resistance, which ultimately led to their suspensions.
In response, Chinamasa, recently reassigned as the party’s national secretary for legal affairs, took a bold step by writing to Chitando’s former ministry to protest the suspensions. He also sent another strongly worded letter to Daniel Garwe, the current minister of Local Government and Public Works, critiquing the decisions made by his predecessor. These actions did not sit well with Chitando and Garwe, who reported Chinamasa’s conduct to President Mnangagwa.
The letters, particularly one dated May 7 to Garwe, reveal Chinamasa’s deep dissatisfaction with the actions taken against his colleagues. “Your predecessor, Honourable Winston Chitando took a decision which I strongly feel was unjustified and defies any logic unless there is something besides (what was) disclosed to me,” Chinamasa argued in the correspondence. He defended Mutasa’s reputation and his past role as a national chairperson of the National Association of Rural and Urban Councils, suggesting that a more consultative approach could have prevented damage to their reputations.
In addition to harming Chinamasa’s reputation within the organization, this conflict has brought to light more serious problems with loyalty and governance inside Zanu PF. Having held positions as Attorney General, Finance Minister, and Justice Minister under the late former President Robert Mugabe, those close to the matter said Chinamasa had become increasingly arrogant since his rise to power under Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa responded with unusual severity. He allegedly questioned Chinamasa’s reasoning for publicly questioning and criticizing his Cabinet appointees, highlighting the fact that since both Chitando and Garwe are his appointees, such acts were perceived as directly undermining his authority. The persistent tensions over the handling of sensitive subjects, including corruption probes, are reflected in this dialog within the highest levels of government. Chinamasa has not responded to questions from the media since the incident, thus it is unclear what he will do going forward. As a result of his recent appointment, Minister Garwe has resisted offering a firm statement on the subject.
