Charamba Slams Rumors of Secret Mzembi-Mnangagwa Meeting
HARARE – Presidential spokesperson George Charamba has dismissed reports suggesting that exiled former minister Walter Mzembi secretly met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House, shutting down speculation that had stirred heated reactions online.
Mzembi, who fled Zimbabwe in 2018 while facing corruption charges, made headlines on June 11, 2025, after rumors claimed he had returned discreetly for a meeting with Mnangagwa.
The speculation sparked intense debate across social media, with critics alleging an attempt to reconcile with Zanu-PF, while others questioned the President’s engagement with a former official still entangled in legal woes.
The former tourism minister, once a loyal figure in Robert Mugabe’s administration, left Zimbabwe citing the need for cancer treatment in South Africa.
Following Mugabe’s ouster in the 2017 military coup, Mzembi alleged he was a victim of political persecution and later settled in Zambia.
Responding to the growing controversy, Charamba took to X (formerly Twitter) on June 13, 2025, and dismissed the speculation outright.
“THE SPIRITED ATTACK ON THIS MAN FOR A NEVER-NEVER ENCOUNTER SHOWS HOW VESTED THE POLITICS OF DIVISION ARE IN OUR BODY-POLITIC AND PSYCHE!!! Not that the attacks matter!!!!!” – @GeorgeCharamba
The statement did little to calm the discussion, as reactions continued to pour in.
While some defended Mzembi’s alleged return, others strongly criticized the possibility of him meeting Mnangagwa.
Social Media Reactions:
@TChinoera: “This man had pending cases, and as a suspect, meeting the State President makes bad taste in the mouth.”
@DanfordMachona: “We are waiting to see what will happen to the alleged offences”.
-iHarare
