Lusaka/Dubai – 30 March 2025
By A Correspondent | ZimEye | Flight records reviewed this evening show that ZANU PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa was aboard Emirates Flight EK714 from Lusaka to Dubai, which departed at 21:35 on Sunday, 30 March 2025—just hours before a highly anticipated demonstration in Zimbabwe scheduled for 31 March. The protest, widely seen as a potential flashpoint in the country’s intensifying succession battle, is reportedly aimed at ushering Vice President Constantino Chiwenga into power.
Mutsvangwa’s abrupt exit has sparked intense speculation and political chatter across southern Africa, as tensions between factions aligned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and those backing Chiwenga reach a fever pitch. Critics have accused Mutsvangwa of abandoning ship at a crucial political juncture, with some interpreting his departure as a sign of internal collapse within Mnangagwa’s circle.
The flight, Emirates EK714, departed Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 21:35, and is expected to land in Dubai at 06:27 local time on Monday, 31 March. While Mutsvangwa has yet to issue a public statement, sources close to the ruling party confirm he was scheduled to travel under a diplomatic passport.
This development comes as Mutsvangwa faces mounting pressure over recent incendiary statements, factional rifts within ZANU PF, and reported disagreements over the security sector’s handling of unrest. His political nemesis, General-turned-Vice President Chiwenga, is believed to be capitalizing on the moment, as protest organizers signal an intent to march in support of a transitional authority led by military-aligned elements.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Mutsvangwa over the report to verify if he’s physically abroad were not feasible as he did not pick up calls.
Government officials have not responded to inquiries about the implications of Mutsvangwa’s departure, but insider sources suggest the party is scrambling to contain fallout from what some are calling “a calculated retreat.”
More updates to follow as the situation unfolds.