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Line 2: {{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder \| honorific-prefix = ~~Rtd.~~[[His Excellency]]<br>[[General officer\|General]] \| name = Constantino Chiwenga \| honorific-suffix = \| image = Константино Чивенго (21-02-2024).jpg ~~\| image = The Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, General (Retd.) Dr. Constantino Chiwenga on March 23, 2018 (cropped).jpg~~ \| imagesize = \| smallimage = \| caption = Chiwenga in 2024 \| order = \| office = [[Vice-President of Zimbabwe\|First Vice -President of Zimbabwe]] \| term_start = 28 December 2017 \| president = [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] Line 17: \| office1 = [[Ministry of Health and Child Care (Zimbabwe)\|Minister of Health and Child Care]] \| term_start1 = 4 August 2020 \| term_end1 = 11 September 2023 \| president1 = Emmerson Mnangagwa \| predecessor1 = [[Obadiah Moyo]] \| successor1 = [[Douglas Mombeshora]] \| office2 = [[Ministry of Defence (Zimbabwe)\|Minister of Defence and War Veterans]] \| term_start2 = 29 December 2017 Line 27: \| predecessor2 = [[Kembo Mohadi]] \| successor2 = [[Oppah Muchinguri\|Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri]] \| office3 = [[ZANU-PF\|Vice -President and Second Secretary of ~~the [[Zimbabwean African National Union~~ZANU-~~Patriotic Front~~PF]] ~~(ZANU–PF)~~ \| alongside3 = Kembo Mohadi \| term_start3 = 23 December 2017 Line 71: \| footnotes = }} '''Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga''' (born '''Constantine ~~Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino~~ Chiwenga'''~~) (born~~; 25 August 1956), is a Zimbabwean politician and former army general currently serving, since 2017, as the First Vice-President of Zimbabwe under President [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]]. In August 2020, he added the Health Ministry to his portfolio. Since 2017, he has also been the Vice President and Second Secretary of the ruling [[Zimbabwean African National Union–Patriotic Front]] (ZANU-PF) jointly serving with [[Kembo Mohadi]]. In 2017, he, ~~among~~was ~~others,~~the ~~managed~~most toprominent military leader involved in successfully ~~topple~~toppling Zimbabwe's President of 37 years [[Robert Mugabe]] in a bloodless [[2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état\|coup]].<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/zimbabwe-army-chief-warns-military-could-step-in-over-party-purge\|title=Zimbabwe army chief warns military could 'step in' over party purge\|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]\|date=2017-11-13\|work=The Guardian\|access-date=2019-11-21\|language=en-GB\|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/zimbabwe-politics-mugabe/ \|title="Treacherous shenanigans" - The inside story of Mugabe's downfall \|work=Reuters \|first1=MacDonald \|last1=Dzirutwe \|first2=Joe \|last2=Brock \|first3=Ed \|last3=Cropley \|date=2018-11-26 \|access-date=2022-11-14}}</ref> == Personal life == Chiwenga was born in 1956 in [[Wedza District]] of [[Mashonaland East Province]]. He was educated up to [[GCE Ordinary Level\|O Level]] at ~~[[Mt St Mary's Mission School\|~~St Mary's Mission]] in Hwedza, together with former students: [[Perrance Shiri]], later Air Marshal, <ref>{{Cite news\|last=Nyarota \|first=Geoffrey \|date=6 January 2009 \|accessdate=2010-01-11 \|title=Shiri's assassination attempt was a hoax \|publisher=The Zimbabwe Situation \|url=http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jan7a_2009.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920212213/https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/jan7a_2009.html \|archive-date=20 September 2015 \|url-status=live \|df=dmy}}</ref> and Shungurirai, later Brigadier General and Commander Mechanised Brigade.{{Citation needed\|reason=Shungurirai not verified \|date=March 2021}} Chiwenga went on to earn a PhD in Ethics from the [[University of KwaZulu-Natal]] in 2015.<ref name="UKZN-1">{{Cite web\|title=Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander graduates with PhD from UKZN \|date=21 April 2015 \|publisher=University of KwaZulu-Natal \|url=https://www.news24.com/News24/zim-army-commander-gets-phd-from-ukzn-20150510 }}</ref> On 29 July 2016, he changed his name to Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga.<ref>{{cite news\|last=Ziga \|first=Brenda \|date=30 July 2016 \|title=Gen Chiwenga changes name \|newspaper=[[The Herald (Zimbabwe)\|The Herald]] \|location=Harare, Zimbabwe \|url=http://www.herald.co.zw/gen-chiwenga-changes-name/ \|accessdate=16 November 2017 }}</ref> Chiwenga has been married and divorced several times.<ref>"General Chiwenga has publicly been associated with five women, and has children with two of them. His first wife lives in Marondera and is from Wedza." Chiwenga has adult children from his first marriage. {{Cite news\|date=8 December 2019 \|title=General Chiwenga Moves Back to His First Wife \|newspaper=Gambawe \|url=https://gambakwe.com/2019/12/08/exclusive-general-chiwenga-moves-back-to-his-first-wife/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218223940/https://gambakwe.com/2019/12/08/exclusive-general-chiwenga-moves-back-to-his-first-wife/ \|archive-date=18 December 2019 \|url-status=live \|df=dmy}}</ref> In 1998 he married Jocelyn Jacobsen (née Mauchaza) with a divorce in 2012.<ref name="Mawire">{{Cite news\|last=Mawire \|first=Gift \|date=7 March 2017 \|title=Filthy Rich General Chiwenga Messy Divorce Exposes Plunder, Externalisation And Offshore Properties \|newspaper=PaZimbabwe \|url=https://www.pazimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-35372-filthy-rich-general-chiwenga-messy-divorce-exposes-plunder-externalisation-and-offshore-properties.html \|archive-url=https://archive.today/gQ1UH?https://www.pazimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-35372-filthy-rich-general-chiwenga-messy-divorce-exposes-plunder-externalisation-and-offshore-properties.html \|archive-date=18 December 2019 \|url-status=live \|df=dmy}}</ref> There were no children from his marriage to Jacobsen.<ref name="New-baby">{{Cite news\|date=19 November 2012 \|title=Chiwenga, Wife Welcome New Baby \|newspaper=[[Daily News (Harare)\|Daily News]] \|location=Harare, Zimbabwe \|url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2012/11/19/chiwenga-wife-welcome-new-baby \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614173859/https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2012/11/19/chiwenga-wife-welcome-new-baby \|archive-date=14 June 2014 \|url-status=dead \|df=dmy}}</ref> In 2011 he married Marry (Mary) Mubaiwa, a former model,<ref name="Mawire" /><ref name="New-baby" /> while still married to Jacobsen.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=17 November 2011 \|title=Chiwenga in soup over new wife Mary \|newspaper=[[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper)\|NewsDay]] \|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2011/11/2011-11-17-chiwenga-in-soup-over-new-wife-mary/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117143446/https://www.newsday.co.zw/2011/11/2011-11-17-chiwenga-in-soup-over-new-wife-mary/ \|archive-date=17 November 2017 \|url-status=live \|df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|date=20 August 2015 \|title=Chiwenga 's fight with ex-wife reaches Supreme Court \|newspaper=PaZimbabwe \|url=https://www.pazimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-7259-chiwengaex-wife-fight-reaches-supreme-court.html \|archive-url=https://archive.today/UMTpp?https://www.pazimbabwe.com/zimbabwe-7259-chiwengaex-wife-fight-reaches-supreme-court.html \|archive-date=18 December 2019 \|url-status=~~live~~dead \|df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news\|date=12 September 2014 \|title=Chiwenga wins farm battle over ex-wife \|newspaper=[[Zimbabwe Independent]] \|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2014/09/12/chiwenga-wins-farm-battle-ex-wife/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703031240/https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2014/09/12/chiwenga-wins-farm-battle-ex-wife/ \|archive-date=3 July 2018 \|url-status=live \|df=dmy}}</ref> In 2012 Marry bore their first child, a son, and a year later she bore a girl.<ref name="New-baby" /><ref name="PM-News-1">{{Cite news\|date=7 December 2019 \|title=Vice President divorces wife, evicts her from home \|newspaper=P.M. News \|location=Lagos, Nigeria \|publisher=Independent Communications Network Limited (ICNL) \|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/12/07/vice-president-divorces-wife-evicts-her-from-home/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208132354/https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/12/07/vice-president-divorces-wife-evicts-her-from-home/ \|archive-date=8 December 2019 \|url-status=live \|df=dmy}}</ref> In 2019, suffering from an undisclosed ailment, Chiwenga checked into a South African hospital. A fracus arose when his wife Marry visited him. She was later charged with attempted murder.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Bellware \|first=Kim \|date=17 December 2019 \|title=Wife of Zimbabwe vice president charged with money laundering, marriage fraud and attempting to kill her husband \|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/12/17/wife-zimbabwe-vice-president-charged-with-money-laundering-marriage-fraud-attempting-kill-her-husband/ }}</ref> In December 2019 Chiwenga filed for divorce from Marry.<ref name="PM-News-1" /> Chiwenga married Colonel MIniyothabo Baloyi a serving member of the Zimbabwe National Army in June 2022.<ref>{{Cite news\|title=Vice President Chiwenga marries army Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi \|date=7 June 2022 \|newspaper=Zimbabwe Daily \|url=https://www.zimdaily.com/vice-president-chiwenga-marries-army-colonel-miniyothabo-baloyi/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609205512/https://www.zimdaily.com/vice-president-chiwenga-marries-army-colonel-miniyothabo-baloyi/ \|archive-date=9 June 2022 \|url-status=live }}</ref> == Rhodesian Bush War == Line 107: On 13 November 2017, Chiwenga released a press statement chastising those responsible for the dismissals of government officials in the ruling [[ZANU-PF]] party.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/11/14/chiwenga-warns-mugabe-zanu-pf\|title=Chiwenga warns Mugabe, Zanu PF\|date=14 November 2017\|accessdate=15 November 2017\|author=Kwaramba, Fungi & Tafirenyika, Mugove\|newspaper=[[Daily News (Harare)\|Daily News]]\|archive-date=16 November 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116103001/https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/11/14/chiwenga-warns-mugabe-zanu-pf\|url-status=dead}}</ref> He warned that the armed forces would be forced to intervene should the "purging" not stop. In response, ZANU-PF's spokesperson [[Simon Khaya-Moyo]] released a press statement accusing Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct".<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41992351\|title=Zimbabwe crisis: Army takes over – Mugabe 'detained'\|date=15 November 2017\|accessdate=15 November 2017\|newspaper=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> On 14 November it was reported that soldiers and armoured military vehicles were seen headed towards the capital, Harare. Several roads were later blocked in the city including the one leading to President [[Robert Mugabe]]'s private residence, as well as one leading to the ZANU-PF aligned national broadcaster, [[Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation]] (ZBC). In the early hours of the next day the military spokesperson, the late Major General [[Sibusiso Moyo]], appeared on ZBC Television announcing that the military had not taken over the country and that the president and his family were safe. He also announced that the armed forces would be "targeting criminals around him [Mugabe] who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country". It was later reported that several ZANU-PF politicians and government ministers were detained or arrested, including the finance minister, [[Ignatius Chombo]].<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-politics/zimbabwe-army-launches-takeover-against-criminals-around-mugabe-says-president-safe-idUKKBN1DE1WB\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115080719/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-politics/zimbabwe-army-launches-takeover-against-criminals-around-mugabe-says-president-safe-idUKKBN1DE1WB\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=15 November 2017\|title=Zimbabwe army launches takeover against 'criminals' around Mugabe, says president 'safe'\|date=15 November 2017\|accessdate=15 November 2017\|first= MacDonald\|last=Dzirutwe \|newspaper=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> ===Alleged Chinese involvement=== Days before the coup, Chiwenga visited China to meet senior Chinese military leaders, including Generals [[Chang Wanquan]] and [[Li Zuocheng]]. Chiwenga's visit to China has come under scrutiny, with speculation that he had sought Beijing's tacit approval for a possible move against Mugabe.<ref>[{{Cite news\|last1=Westcott \|first1=Ben \|last2=George \|first2=Steve \|date=17 November 2017 \|title= The Chinese connection to the Zimbabwe 'coup' \|publisher=CNN \|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/17/africa/china-zimbabwe-mugabe-diplomacy/index.html]. ~~''CNN''. Retrieved~~\|access-date= 17 November 2017.}}</ref> However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that his visit was a "normal military exchange."<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-china/china-says-zimbabwe-military-chiefs-visit-was-normal-visit-idUSKBN1DF0UB\|title=Zimbabwe military chief's China trip was normal visit, Beijing says\|date=15 November 2017\|work=[[Reuters]]\|access-date=15 November 2017}}</ref> The Chinese embassy in South Africa called the reports of Chinese involvement "self-contradictory, full of logical fallacies, and filled with evil intentions."<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Phillips\|first1=Tom\|title=China rejects claims it had hand in efforts to oust Robert Mugabe\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/21/china-rejects-claims-it-had-hand-in-efforts-to-oust-robert-mugabe\|work=The Guardian\|date=21 November 2017}}</ref> ==Political career== Line 117: Chiwenga was appointed [[Ministry of Health and Child Care (Zimbabwe)\|Minister of Health and Child Care]] in August 2020. He succeeded [[Obadiah Moyo]] who was sacked a month earlier over corruption in awarding coronavirus testing contracts.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Zimbabwe VP named health minister after virus graft scandal \|url=https://ewn.co.za/2020/08/04/zimbabwe-vp-named-health-minister-after-virus-graft-scandal \|work=EWN \|agency=AFP \|date=4 August 2020 \|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Xinhua-2">{{Cite news\|title=Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa appoints VP Chiwenga as new health minister \|date=5 August 2020 \|publisher=Xinhua Net \|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/05/c_139264980.htm \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805050026/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-08/05/c_139264980.htm \|archive-date=5 August 2020 \|url-status=live }}</ref> Member of Parliament [[Tendai Biti]] said the appointment violates the constitution, which says the Vice President is not allowed to hold any other public office.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Chipato \|first1=Victor \|title=Is the Appointment of VP Chiwenga as Zimbabwe's Health Minister Legal? \|url=http://www.allnetafrica.com/2020/08/04/is-the-appointment-of-vp-chiwenga-as-zimbabwes-health-minister-legal/ \|work=Allnet Africa \|date=4 August 2020}}</ref> Chiwenga inherited a corruption-ridden department with a disorganized response to the covid-19 pandemic.<ref name="Xinhua-2" /> In January 2021, he presided at the burial service for three "heroes of the liberation struggle", Foreign Affairs Minister Lieutenant General (Retired) Dr. [[Sibusiso Moyo]], Transport Minister [[Joel Biggie Matiza]] and former prisons chief Major-General (Retired) [[Paradzai Zimondi]], all of whom had died from ~~covid~~COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Mahlahla \|first=Justin \|date=27 January 2021 \|title=We will conquer covid-19, says Acting President Chiwenga at historic heroes' triple burial \|publisher=ZBC News (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation) \|url=https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/we-will-conquer-covid-19-says-acting-president-chiwenga-at-historic-heroes-triple-burial/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127152537/https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/we-will-conquer-covid-19-says-acting-president-chiwenga-at-historic-heroes-triple-burial/ \|archive-date=27 January 2021 \|url-status=live }}</ref> Although Chiwenga called for unity in fighting the virus, he had yet to disclose a plan for vaccination, nor to identify the funds for paying for it.<ref>{{Cite news\|last1=Malanga \|first1=Blessed \|last2=Chikandwa \|first2=Harriet \|date=28 January 2021 \|title=A healthy Chiwenga resurfaces \|newspaper=[[NewsDay (Zimbabwean newspaper)\|NewsDay]] \|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/01/a-healthy-chiwenga-resurfaces/ \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128163156/https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/01/a-healthy-chiwenga-resurfaces/ \|archive-date=28 January 2021 \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal \|title=~~Zimbabwe’s~~Zimbabwe's ~~“Military~~"Military-assisted ~~Transition”~~Transition" and Prospects for Recovery \|journal=Crisis Group Africa Briefing N°\|issue=134 \|date=20 December 2017 \|volume=International crisis group}}</ref> In September 2023, following the parliamentary elections, he was reappointed as First Vice President.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Ndebele \|first=Lenin \|date=8 September 2023 \|title=Zimbabwe gets two familiar faces as VPs – including one who left amid scandal \|newspaper=News 24 \|location=South Africa \|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/zimbabwe-gets-two-familiar-faces-as-vps-including-one-who-left-amid-scandal-20230908 }}</ref> ==References== Line 141 ⟶ 143: [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:People from Wedza District]] [[Category:Defence ~~Ministers~~ministers of Zimbabwe]] [[Category:Health ~~Ministers~~ministers of Zimbabwe]] [[Category:Vice-presidents of Zimbabwe]]