By Political Reporter- Respected war hero and Zanu PF Politburo member, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube, has died just a month after making headlines for challenging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s continued grip on power.
He was 83.
Dube succumbed to kidney failure on Thursday after a long battle with illness.
Dube’s son, Vusa Dube, confirmed the news, expressing shock despite his father’s decade-long struggle with poor health. “I can confirm that my father, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube, passed away today at 7:34 pm at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo following kidney failure. He had been unwell for the past 10 years, but his death has still come as a shock to us as a family,” he said.
A month before his death, the outspoken Dube had openly criticized those encouraging Mnangagwa to extend his rule.
Speaking at the funeral of fellow liberation war hero Killion Dube, Tshinga warned against sycophants surrounding the president, calling them opportunists “singing for their supper” at the expense of the nation.
“There are various opinions on the succession issue. Most party members have suggested that [Mnangagwa] should stay in power, but he himself has said he will follow the Constitution. While we haven’t heard him express a desire to cling to power, we must remember that while men propose, God disposes,” Dube remarked.
He went on to caution that bad advice could tarnish Mnangagwa’s legacy. “Advisers are problematic; those advising the president are looking at things that benefit themselves. We must be careful that advice given to the president doesn’t serve individuals alone. After working so hard—surviving the hangman’s noose—it would be tragic for his legacy to be destroyed by bad advice,” Dube added.
Dube’s critical stance aligned him more closely with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who has often been seen as Mnangagwa’s primary rival within Zanu PF.
Chiwenga, the former army general who played a pivotal role in ousting Robert Mugabe in 2017, has reportedly been building support within the party’s military faction, creating a simmering power struggle.
Tshinga Dube’s recent statements seemed to side with Chiwenga’s camp, further deepening tensions within the ruling party ahead of its next elective congress.
Although the upcoming Zanu PF conference is expected to be an administrative one, the rivalry between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga looms large over the party’s future, with figures like Dube playing a key role in shaping internal debates.
At Killion Dube’s funeral, Tshinga paid tribute to the fallen hero, describing him as a pioneer of the liberation struggle who worked tirelessly through the Zambezi region.
He praised Killion Dube for paving the way for future generations of Zimbabweans.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, represented by Bulawayo’s deputy director for administration Julious Gwatiwa, also commended Tshinga Dube for his dedication to the liberation of Zimbabwe. “Dube’s contributions to the struggle brought freedom and dignity to all of us today, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations,” Ncube said.
Tshinga Dube’s passing marks the loss of yet another key figure from Zimbabwe’s liberation war, but his outspoken views and alignment with Chiwenga in the ongoing Mnangagwa succession debate ensure that his legacy will remain intertwined with the country’s current political landscape.