Kasukuwere labels Mzembi an “honest Zimbabwean” trapped in a “dungeon”
SOUTH AFRICA – Exiled former Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has publicly defended his “brother,” former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi, describing him as an “honest Zimbabwean” who has been “trapped into a dungeon” following his recent arrest and return to Zimbabwe, urging supporters to help secure his release amidst a deepening public dispute.
This comes at a time when the controversy surrounding Mzembi’s return to Zimbabwe and subsequent arrest has escalated, with exiled allies, a prominent journalist, and former legislator Temba Mliswa trading accusations over the circumstances of his comeback.
Kasukuwere on Thursday described Mzembi as “an honest Zimbabwean” who had been “trapped into a dungeon.”
Writing on social media, Kasukuwere urged his supporters to intensify efforts to secure Mzembi’s release.
“He is my brother and nothing will change that,” Mzembi stated.
“He was trapped into a dungeon but one day, he will be out! Nothing hurts more than knowing that Walter Mzembi is an honest Zimbabwean. Let’s double our efforts to get him out of this difficult position. God bless.”
Mzembi, 61, was arrested in June after unexpectedly returning to Zimbabwe and remains in remand prison facing charges of theft of trust property and abuse of office.
His bail appeal was dismissed last month, with the High Court ruling that he could not be trusted to stand trial given his previous abscondment in 2018, when he left the country for medical treatment in South Africa.
Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has also weighed in, accusing Mliswa of trying to “rewrite history” by denying involvement in attempts to lure Mzembi and other exiled figures back home.
Chin’ono alleged that Mliswa contacted him in Johannesburg, encouraging him to return, but said he had already been warned by activist Ali Naka and intelligence sources not to engage.
He further claimed Mliswa was working with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to entice targeted individuals, an allegation he supported by sharing what he said were WhatsApp exchanges between the two.
“I wasn’t going to Addis Ababa, Temba. I had already been warned of your alleged mission. So please do not try to rewrite history or distort facts,” Chin’ono wrote on X, denying he had political ambitions or asylum status abroad.
Mliswa dismissed the accusations that he lured Mzembi as “fabrications,” insisting that the former cabinet Minister acted on his own volition after a fallout with Kasukuwere in South Africa and later sought his assistance to re-engage Zimbabwean authorities.
He denied any links to the CIO.
“All this talk about me selling him out is noonday hogwash. I’m no spy and never worked for CIO. Mzembi is not a victim of anything I did but of that which compelled him to flee from SA,” Mliswa said.
He added that his consistent position has been to encourage the safe return of exiled Zimbabweans and to advocate for reconciliation.
Mzembi, a former Masvingo South MP and cabinet minister, faces allegations that he unlawfully disposed of 16 large television screens worth US$800,000 purchased for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and that he misappropriated funds and vehicles linked to the 2013 UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly, which Zimbabwe co-hosted with Zambia.
He fled Zimbabwe in 2018 while on bail, living in South Africa for about seven years before his return. Reports in local media suggest his health is deteriorating while being detained.
