President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent appointment of Stephen Mutamba as Zimbabwe’s Police Commissioner-General, effective January 1, 2025, has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with critics accusing the president of engaging in ‘clansmen politics’ and deepening ethnic divisions within the nation’s governance.
Mutamba, hailing from the Chipinda area bordering Bikita and Zaka districts in Masvingo province, succeeds Tandabantu Godwin Matanga in this pivotal national security role. However, detractors argue that Mnangagwa is perpetuating a longstanding tradition of favoring individuals from his own ethnic group, the Karanga, thereby sidelining other communities.
Zimbabwe’s constitution mandates that government appointments reflect the country’s rich ethnic diversity, encompassing 15 recognized groups, to ensure equitable representation. Nonetheless, critics contend that Mnangagwa has flouted this requirement, opting instead to consolidate power by appointing allies predominantly from his home provinces of Midlands and Masvingo.
Since ascending to power in 2017, following a coup against former president Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa has faced mounting accusations of promoting a ‘Karanga hegemony.’ Notably, he has appointed his son, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, as Deputy Finance Minister, and his nephew, Tongai Mnangagwa, as Deputy Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
These appointments have intensified internal tensions within the ruling ZANU-PF party, particularly with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who belongs to the Zezuru ethnic group. The burgeoning power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga has further exposed the deep-seated ethnic politics that have long plagued Zimbabwe’s governance.
Political analysts warn that Mnangagwa’s ethnocentric approach risks entrenching nepotism and cronyism, potentially fueling public discontent and unrest. “Instead of dismantling Mugabe’s ethnocentric project, Mnangagwa is building his own, worsening the nation’s divisions,” remarked an analyst who preferred to remain anonymous.
As Zimbabwe grapples with these allegations, the president’s latest appointment has sparked a national debate on the imperative of fostering inclusive governance that genuinely reflects the country’s diverse ethnic tapestry.
