Who is Mabel Chinomona?

Mabel Memory Chinomona, born on January 21, 1958, in Mutoko, Mashonaland East, began her political journey as a teenager during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. At 17, in late 1975, she joined the Second Chimurenga, the armed resistance against Rhodesian colonial rule, leaving behind her education at Nyamuzuwe High School, where she had earned her junior certificate. She later completed her Ordinary Levels at Murewa High School and pursued tertiary certificates at Speciss College and Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic. Her early involvement in the liberation movement embedded her deeply within ZANU-PF’s structures, shaping her as a loyalist to the party’s revolutionary ideals.

After Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, Chinomona quickly rose through ZANU-PF’s ranks, starting as the Women’s League chairperson for Mashonaland East Province, a role she held for a decade. This position established her as a grassroots mobilizer, adept at rallying support for the party. In the 1990s, she became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mutoko North, a seat she held unopposed for 15 years, reflecting her strong local support base. During this period, she worked in the Ministry of Local Government for a decade and briefly served as Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, gaining experience in governance and administration.

Her career faced a significant setback in 2004 when she was allegedly linked to the Tsholotsho Declaration, a clandestine meeting aimed at elevating Emmerson Mnangagwa to a higher position within ZANU-PF. The fallout saw her sidelined for five years, a period that tested her resilience. She made a comeback in 2013, winning re-election as MP for Mutoko North with 88.03% of the vote and securing a central committee post. From 2013 to 2018, she served as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, a role that elevated her national profile but also drew criticism for her handling of parliamentary proceedings, including her 2016 decision to allow police intervention in Parliament, which led to the mistreatment of legislators over one wearing the Zimbabwean flag’s colors—an early sign of her willingness to prioritize party loyalty over democratic norms.

Chinomona’s fortunes soared after the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe. In December 2017, she was appointed Secretary of the ZANU-PF Women’s League, replacing Grace Mugabe, who was expelled from the party. This role made her a politburo member, cementing her influence within ZANU-PF. In 2018, she was elected Senate President with 50 votes against 25 for CCC’s Felix Magalela Sibanda, a position she retained in 2023, solidifying her as a key player in Zimbabwe’s legislative framework. However, her tenure has increasingly been marked by actions that incite conflict rather than resolve it, particularly in the context of the current crisis.

Role in Parliament’s De Facto Adjournment

As of April 8, 2025, Zimbabwe’s Parliament has not been officially adjourned but is effectively paralyzed due to the ongoing political crisis within ZANU-PF. The turmoil stems from President Mnangagwa’s controversial push to extend his presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit ending in 2028, a move that has fractured the party. On March 31, 2025, war veterans and dissident factions, led by figures like Blessed Geza, orchestrated a national shutdown, closing schools and businesses in protest, resulting in 95 arrests in Harare. This unrest, coupled with heavy police presence and fears of violence, has made it nearly impossible for Parliament to function, with lawmakers either unwilling or unable to convene.

As Senate President, Chinomona is constitutionally responsible for guiding Senate proceedings and ensuring its operations continue smoothly. However, her actions—or lack thereof—have contributed to the current deadlock, casting her as an inciter rather than a mediator. On April 2, 2025, a Senate session scheduled to discuss drought relief measures was abruptly canceled without explanation, a move sources attribute to Chinomona’s inability to secure attendance amid the unrest. Her unwavering support for Mnangagwa, particularly her advocacy for his fraudulent 2030 agenda, has deepened divisions within ZANU-PF, alienating factions loyal to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and others opposed to Mnangagwa’s extended rule. Her failure to facilitate dialogue or maintain Senate operations during this crisis suggests either an inability or unwillingness to bridge the growing rift, further inflaming tensions.

Chinomona’s role in this paralysis is not merely passive. Her public statements, such as her March 5, 2025, call for open campaigning within ZANU-PF, have been interpreted by some as a veiled attempt to undermine Chiwenga’s potential succession, further stoking factional tensions. Blessing Vava of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition noted on April 3, 2025, that “Chinomona’s alignment with Mnangagwa has turned the Senate into a battleground for ZANU-PF’s succession war, rather than a chamber for governance.” Her actions have thus contributed to the legislative deadlock, positioning her as an inciter of conflict rather than a leader capable of navigating the crisis.

Support for Mnangagwa’s Fraudulent 2030 Agenda

Chinomona has been a vocal supporter of Mnangagwa’s so-called Vision 2030, which ostensibly aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income society by 2030. However, the “ED 2030” campaign, which seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s presidency beyond his constitutional term, is widely regarded as a fraudulent scheme—a heist on the people’s rights and natural resources, designed to advance corruption under the guise of development. Critics argue that Vision 2030 is a facade for consolidating power, enabling Mnangagwa and his allies to further exploit Zimbabwe’s vast mineral wealth, including lithium, gold, and diamonds, while deepening economic inequality and entrenching ZANU-PF’s grip on power.

On September 6, 2024, during a ZANU-PF Women’s League National Executive Committee meeting in Harare, Chinomona formally appealed to Mnangagwa to remain in office past 2028, a resolution set to be tabled at the party’s Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo. She assured the committee that she would personally deliver the message to Mnangagwa, describing him as a “listening President” who values the “voice of the people.” She also praised his appointment as SADC Chairperson, framing his leadership as essential for regional stability and women’s empowerment. However, her advocacy for this agenda has been met with fierce backlash, as it is seen as a direct assault on Zimbabwe’s constitution and a mechanism to perpetuate corruption.

The 2030 agenda has been linked to numerous allegations of resource plundering. Reports from independent watchdogs, such as the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) and Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), have documented how ZANU-PF elites, including those close to Mnangagwa, have secured lucrative mining contracts under Vision 2030, often through opaque deals that bypass local communities. A 2024 ZELA report highlighted that Chinese firms linked to Mnangagwa’s allies, such as the Sinomine Resource Group, have been granted lithium mining concessions in Mashonaland East, displacing over 1,500 villagers in Mutoko and causing environmental degradation, including water contamination and deforestation. Similarly, a 2023 TIZ investigation revealed that gold mining operations in Matabeleland South, overseen by companies tied to Mnangagwa’s family, have generated millions in revenue, with little trickling down to local communities or the national treasury.

The agenda’s promise of economic growth is undermined by the reality of Zimbabwe’s economic collapse: 95% unemployment, hyperinflation, and a 98% depreciation of the Zimbabwe dollar since 2020, with little tangible progress for ordinary citizens. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) estimates that Zimbabwe has lost over $100 billion in international support since 2001 due to sanctions and mismanagement, a figure that Vision 2030 has done little to address. Instead, the agenda has been used to justify policies that favor ZANU-PF elites, such as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) retention of 50% of USD export earnings, which critics argue acts as a de facto tax on exporters, further enriching party loyalists while crippling the economy.

Chinomona’s advocacy for the 2030 agenda has acted as a catalyst for division within ZANU-PF and the broader populace. By championing Mnangagwa’s extended rule, she has alienated party members and citizens who view the move as a betrayal of democratic principles. Her actions have fueled protests, such as the March 31 national shutdown, and deepened the rift between Mnangagwa’s supporters and those backing Chiwenga or other potential successors. On X, users have decried the agenda as a “looting spree,” with one post on March 10, 2025, stating, “ED’s 2030 is a heist—our lithium, our gold, all gone to his cronies while we starve. Chinomona’s support makes her complicit! #ZimCrisis.” Her role in promoting this fraudulent agenda positions her as an inciter, stoking public anger and party infighting rather than fostering unity or addressing the nation’s economic woes.

Allegations of Propaganda Campaigns and Threats

Chinomona’s alignment with Mnangagwa has drawn allegations of involvement in propaganda campaigns and more severe accusations of inciting violence. On March 28, 2025, a leaked video circulating on X allegedly captured Chinomona threatening to assassinate Vice President Chiwenga, a key rival to Mnangagwa in the ZANU-PF succession battle. The video, which went viral with over 50,000 views, reportedly featured Chinomona warning Chiwenga and his allies against challenging Mnangagwa’s leadership during a closed-door meeting with party officials. Political analyst Alexander Rusero commented on the footage, stating, “If a senior party official like Chinomona is heard making such threats, it speaks volumes about the level of desperation within the party’s factions.” However, the video’s authenticity remains unverified, with no independent media outlet confirming its legitimacy, and Chinomona has not publicly responded. Some of her allies have dismissed the video as “misinterpreted” or “doctored,” while others on X have called for an investigation, with one user posting on April 1, 2025, “If Chinomona really threatened Chiwenga, she’s a danger to democracy. We need answers! #ZimCrisis.” Given the lack of corroboration, this allegation should be treated as speculative, though its circulation reflects the intense public distrust of Chinomona’s motives.

Additionally, Chinomona’s role in promoting Mnangagwa’s 2030 agenda has been criticized as part of a broader propaganda effort to entrench his rule. On October 24, 2024, during a ZANU-PF Central Committee meeting, she distanced herself from a circulating photograph promoting her as a potential vice-presidential candidate, a move seen as an attempt to counter narratives of her involvement in factional propaganda. The Central Committee resolved to prosecute those spreading misinformation under the Cyber and Data Security Act, reflecting the party’s efforts to control the narrative around the 2030 campaign. Critics argue that Chinomona’s actions, including her impassioned defense of Mnangagwa at a Women’s League event in 2024—where she called for him to “punish detractors”—suggest a willingness to use her position to propagate Mnangagwa’s agenda, further inflaming tensions within the party and the nation. Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, in a statement on March 15, 2025, accused Chinomona of “turning the Senate into a propaganda machine for Mnangagwa’s corrupt regime,” highlighting her role in amplifying the 2030 narrative at the expense of democratic discourse.

On March 2, 2025, allegations surfaced on social media, specifically on Facebook, claiming that Chinomona’s staunch defense of Mnangagwa was motivated by personal ties. A viral post by an unnamed woman alleged that Chinomona and Mnangagwa have a child together named Farai Chinomona, and that Chinomona had looted farms in Mashonaland East, gifting one to her daughter. These claims, reported by The Zimbabwe Mail, also suggested that Chinomona was being positioned as a potential successor to Chiwenga through the ZANU-PF Women’s League quota in the presidium, a move seen as part of Mnangagwa’s strategy to consolidate power. While these allegations have reignited public discourse on corruption and land ownership, they remain unverified, with no official records or credible sources confirming the existence of Farai Chinomona or the farm looting. The Zimbabwe Mail has a history of publishing unverified claims, and the lack of follow-up evidence suggests these allegations may be part of a smear campaign, a common tactic in Zimbabwe’s polarized political climate. Nevertheless, the persistence of such rumors underscores the public’s perception of Chinomona as a figure entangled in ZANU-PF’s corrupt networks.

Recent Activities and Public Stance

Beyond the 2030 campaign, Chinomona has remained active in both domestic and international spheres. On November 3, 2024, she attended the centenary celebrations of All Souls High School in Mashonaland East, alongside Vice President Chiwenga, who represented Mnangagwa. The event highlighted her commitment to education and community development, though her presence alongside Chiwenga—amid allegations of her threatening him—added a layer of tension to the occasion. On August 14, 2024, she addressed women in Mashonaland Central, urging them to campaign for parliamentary seats and increase female representation, a call rooted in her role as a Women Political Leaders (WPL) Ambassador, where she has pledged to push for a 50-50 gender equity agenda by 2030. While this advocacy is commendable, it is overshadowed by her role in the broader political crisis, where her actions have undermined democratic processes.

Internationally, Chinomona has bolstered Zimbabwe’s parliamentary diplomacy, often aligning with Mnangagwa’s foreign policy of seeking alliances with nations critical of Western influence. On June 20, 2024, she led a delegation to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, meeting with Mejlis Chairman D. Gulmanova to discuss legislative cooperation. In 2023, during a visit to Russia, she condemned Western sanctions on both Russia and Zimbabwe as “illegal and unfair,” praising Russia’s educational support for Zimbabwean students, including quotas for Zimbabwean students at Russian universities. These engagements reflect her role in amplifying ZANU-PF’s narrative on the global stage, but they also highlight her failure to address domestic unrest, where her actions have fueled division rather than unity.

Critical Perspective on Chinomona’s Role as an Inciter

Mabel Chinomona’s career is a study in political survival, but her actions in 2025 paint her as an inciter of conflict rather than a unifier. Her rise from a liberation fighter to Senate President demonstrates her ability to navigate Zimbabwe’s volatile political terrain, and her advocacy for women’s representation is a genuine strength. Her international engagements have elevated Zimbabwe’s parliamentary presence, often in defiance of Western sanctions, resonating with many Zimbabweans who view such measures as unjust. However, these achievements are overshadowed by her role in deepening ZANU-PF’s internal divisions and exacerbating the nation’s political crisis through her support for Mnangagwa’s fraudulent 2030 agenda.

The 2030 agenda, far from being a vision for development, is a heist on Zimbabwe’s people and resources, advancing corruption under the guise of progress. By championing this agenda, Chinomona has not only betrayed the democratic principles enshrined in Zimbabwe’s constitution but also enabled the continued plundering of the nation’s natural wealth by Mnangagwa and his allies. Her actions have fueled public anger, as seen in the March 31 protests, and deepened factional strife within ZANU-PF, positioning her as a central figure in the nation’s descent into chaos. Her alleged threats against Chiwenga, while unconfirmed, reflect the public’s perception of her as a divisive figure willing to go to extreme lengths to protect Mnangagwa’s interests, further inciting conflict within the party.

The allegations of a personal relationship with Mnangagwa and farm looting, though unverified, feed into a broader narrative of corruption among ZANU-PF elites, a perception reinforced by her 2015 scandal at the Rainbow Towers hotel, where she reportedly lived at taxpayer expense for over two years. Critics, including commentators like Alex Magaisa, have pointed to such behavior as emblematic of ZANU-PF’s “culture of looting,” arguing that it contributes to the collapse of public services in a country facing economic despair. Her history of controversial decisions, such as her 2016 allowance of police intervention in Parliament and her 2020 acceptance of a letter expelling MDC Alliance Senators, further cements her role as an enabler of undemocratic practices, inciting opposition backlash and public discontent.

Chinomona’s failure to keep the Senate operational during the current crisis is a glaring indictment of her leadership. As Senate President, she has a constitutional mandate to ensure the chamber functions, yet her alignment with Mnangagwa and her complicity in the 2030 agenda have rendered her ineffective, if not complicit, in the parliamentary paralysis. Her actions—whether through propaganda, threats, or blind loyalty—have inflamed tensions rather than quelled them, making her a central figure in Zimbabwe’s descent into political chaos. Posts on X, such as one from April 2, 2025, stating, “Chinomona’s loyalty to ED’s fake 2030 agenda is fanning the flames—she’s an inciter, not a leader,” capture the growing sentiment that her actions are driving division rather than resolution.

Broader Implications and Systemic Context

Chinomona’s role as an inciter must be understood within the broader context of ZANU-PF’s systemic dysfunction. The party’s hierarchical structure often demands unwavering loyalty to the leader, and dissent can lead to political exile, as Chinomona herself experienced during her five-year sidelining after the Tsholotsho Declaration. Her actions, while divisive, may also reflect the pressures of operating in a system that rewards loyalty over principle. Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza, in a March 2025 interview with NewsDay, argued that “figures like Chinomona are products of ZANU-PF’s culture of patronage—her loyalty to Mnangagwa is less about ideology and more about survival.” This perspective suggests that Chinomona’s incitement of conflict may be a byproduct of the party’s internal dynamics rather than a deliberate strategy, though it does not absolve her of responsibility.

The 2030 agenda’s impact extends beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, affecting regional stability and economic relations. South Africa, Zimbabwe’s largest trading partner, faces potential disruptions to its $111.6 million trade relationship if Zimbabwe’s instability worsens, while the SADC’s fractured response to U.S. tariffs—exacerbated by Mnangagwa’s unilateral suspension of U.S. import tariffs on April 6, 2025—underscores the difficulty of forging a unified African front. Chinomona’s support for Mnangagwa’s agenda, which prioritizes personal gain over regional cooperation, has thus contributed to broader geopolitical tensions, further isolating Zimbabwe at a time when it desperately needs international support.

Mabel Chinomona’s political journey is a testament to her resilience and strategic acumen, but her role in 2025 marks her as an inciter of conflict rather than a force for stability. Her advocacy for Mnangagwa’s fraudulent 2030 agenda—a heist on Zimbabwe’s people and resources that advances corruption—has deepened ZANU-PF’s internal rifts and fueled public unrest, contributing to the de facto adjournment of Parliament. The unverified allegations of farm looting, a secret child with Mnangagwa, and threats against Chiwenga paint a troubling picture of a leader entangled in the very corruption and factionalism she should be working to resolve. While her actions must be understood within the context of ZANU-PF’s systemic pressures, they nonetheless position her as a central figure in Zimbabwe’s descent into chaos. As the nation grapples with a deepening crisis, Chinomona’s legacy as an inciter—whether through loyalty, threats, or propaganda—threatens to push Zimbabwe closer to the brink, underscoring the urgent need for leadership that prioritizes the people over personal gain.