Maitengwe Trending Stories: The battle is lost but not the war

Last week, Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 sailed through Parliament with barely any resistance at all. And honestly… what did we expect when those casting the votes are the very same people holding the reins of power?
According to figures circulating, some members of the ruling party did not even show up for the vote, with no clear confirmation on whether they were on leave or simply absent by design. But what stood out was this: 216 votes in favour, 42 against. The Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) passed through a party-line, open voting system-more of a show of hands than a secret ballot where MPs were essentially expected to align with party instructions rather than personal conviction.
What caught yours truly off guard was the absence of my MP from the vote altogether. Whether by strategy or coincidence, it almost feels like a silent political masterpiece- one of those moves that says everything without saying a word.
Then came whispers again: ZANU-PF allegedly didn’t have full numbers, and around 35 CCC members from Matabeleland reportedly voted with the ruling side. And oh boy, the internet erupted.
People wasted no time branding some as “sellouts,” throwing labels and analogies like confetti. But isn’t that where the hypocrisy creeps in? Why is it that when Matabeleland MPs cross the line, they are instantly branded traitors, while in reality ZANU-PF draws even stronger support in parts of Mashonaland where voting patterns also mirror party loyalty? So then the question lingers—who really qualifies as a sellout, and who is simply playing the political game as it is?
Harsh words. Heated debates. But no simple answers.
Meanwhile, it increasingly feels like President Emmerson Mnangagwa is tightening his grip on the political timeline-perhaps even stretching the road beyond 2030. And with CAB3 now behind us, some are already whispering about CAB4 waiting in the wings. But let it be said clearly: this may be a battle won, not the war concluded. The Deputy still lingers somewhere in the political chessboard, very much in play.
Then this week, another fire erupted in the corridors of power—literally and figuratively.
It all began with a self-styled anti-sanctions activist, Rutendo Matinyarire, who has been on a crusade exposing politicians and corruption while opposing CAB3. At the centre of the storm was explosive talk that Kuda Tagwirei allegedly owed him millions of dollars—money tied to political advocacy against sanctions, money that he claims was never paid.
And just when the story was settling, a presidential advisor allegedly stepped in, suggesting that Rutendo be persuaded to tone down attacks on the First Family—with an offer: a Toyota Land Cruiser and $200,000.
The internet, especially the vocal “varakashi” camp, went into overdrive. They argued it sets a dangerous precedent—why reward insult and confrontation while others who defend tirelessly receive little more than applause and maybe a bicycle at best?
Then came another twist: the advisor reportedly countered with cash offers of $10,000 each for supporters defending the presidency online. Allegedly, they refused. Instead, promises of $25,000 were floated from higher political backers tied to the so-called “TEMU president” camp.
What a spectacle. It is almost painful to watch—people defending ideologies through a phone screen being priced, negotiated, and courted more than some of the very veterans who once stood in real trenches for the cause.
And yet, out of all this chaos, one truth emerged: the camp is now visibly divided. The lines are no longer blurred—they are drawn in bold ink. It is now TEMU president versus the advisor… while the General watches from the shadows, calculating, silent.
As a side drama, the ever-loud Temba Mliswa found himself trading blows—this time with Wicknell Chivayo—over body-shaming remarks, with Chivayo firing back in equal measure. But even that was just theatre. Side shows in a much larger unfolding script.
Because at the centre of everything… is CAB3.
Then, just as politics thickened the air, the world shifted its gaze to football.
What a tournament it has been. Pure entertainment. And once again, Lionel Messi reminded everyone why he is called the GOAT. His composure, his vision, his effortless brilliance—it was poetry in motion. Meanwhile, rivalry debates flared again as Cristiano Ronaldo and his supporters faced disappointment after his side struggled against DRC, while Messi lit up the stage with a hat-trick performance that sent fans into frenzy.
And so the football world divides again, as it always does—arguments, passion, loyalty, and endless comparisons.
We will ride this wave of emotion right through to the 19th of July.
For now, all we can say is simple:
Asante.