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Walter Mzembi returns to Zimbabwe after 6 years in exile
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Former foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi has returned to Zimbabwe for the first time since 2018, slipping quietly into the country amid lingering questions over his unresolved corruption charges and political allegiances.
Mzembi, 61, fled Zimbabwe under the pretext of seeking cancer treatment in South Africa while facing trial for allegedly converting to personal use television sets worth US$2 million, which were bought by the government to set up public viewing areas during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
His return this week was shrouded in secrecy, with sources confirming that he met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on Wednesday morning. Neither Mzembi nor the president's spokesperson George Charamba responded to ZimLive's requests for comment.
Once a prominent figure in the late Robert Mugabe's Cabinet, Mzembi served as tourism and later foreign affairs minister before Mugabe was deposed in a military coup in November 2017. Mzembi was part of the so-called G40 faction aligned with Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
After Mugabe's ouster, Mzembi claimed he was being politically persecuted by the new regime and went into self-imposed exile, first to South Africa and later Zambia. He backed fellow exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere's presidential campaign in 2023, a bid that was ultimately blocked by the courts.
Sources told ZimLive that Mzembi's return may have been facilitated by war veteran Phillip Chabata, known to be a close ally of Mnangagwa, who reportedly acted as a go-between in the negotiations.
However, Mzembi's sudden reappearance has triggered speculation and raised legal questions, as a 2019 arrest warrant issued by the courts remains outstanding. At the time, the National Prosecuting Authority vowed to engage Interpol to facilitate his extradition. Despite his travels between South Africa and Zambia - both Interpol member states - it appears no effort was made to enforce the warrant.
As of Wednesday, it was unclear whether the warrant still stands or if a political deal had been struck to facilitate his safe return.
Mzembi's re-entry into Zimbabwean politics, or even public life, will be closely watched by other exiled former Mugabe loyalists, many of whom remain wary of potential retribution from Mnangagwa's government.
His return also raises the possibility of wider political reintegration talks behind the scenes, as ZANU-PF continues to grapple with divisions stemming from the 2017 coup and internal succession battles.
For now, Mzembi's quiet homecoming is a reminder of the unfinished business and unresolved fractures left in the wake of Zimbabwe's turbulent political transition.
Mzembi, 61, fled Zimbabwe under the pretext of seeking cancer treatment in South Africa while facing trial for allegedly converting to personal use television sets worth US$2 million, which were bought by the government to set up public viewing areas during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
His return this week was shrouded in secrecy, with sources confirming that he met President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on Wednesday morning. Neither Mzembi nor the president's spokesperson George Charamba responded to ZimLive's requests for comment.
Once a prominent figure in the late Robert Mugabe's Cabinet, Mzembi served as tourism and later foreign affairs minister before Mugabe was deposed in a military coup in November 2017. Mzembi was part of the so-called G40 faction aligned with Mugabe and his wife, Grace.
After Mugabe's ouster, Mzembi claimed he was being politically persecuted by the new regime and went into self-imposed exile, first to South Africa and later Zambia. He backed fellow exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere's presidential campaign in 2023, a bid that was ultimately blocked by the courts.
Sources told ZimLive that Mzembi's return may have been facilitated by war veteran Phillip Chabata, known to be a close ally of Mnangagwa, who reportedly acted as a go-between in the negotiations.
However, Mzembi's sudden reappearance has triggered speculation and raised legal questions, as a 2019 arrest warrant issued by the courts remains outstanding. At the time, the National Prosecuting Authority vowed to engage Interpol to facilitate his extradition. Despite his travels between South Africa and Zambia - both Interpol member states - it appears no effort was made to enforce the warrant.
As of Wednesday, it was unclear whether the warrant still stands or if a political deal had been struck to facilitate his safe return.
Mzembi's re-entry into Zimbabwean politics, or even public life, will be closely watched by other exiled former Mugabe loyalists, many of whom remain wary of potential retribution from Mnangagwa's government.
His return also raises the possibility of wider political reintegration talks behind the scenes, as ZANU-PF continues to grapple with divisions stemming from the 2017 coup and internal succession battles.
For now, Mzembi's quiet homecoming is a reminder of the unfinished business and unresolved fractures left in the wake of Zimbabwe's turbulent political transition.
Source - ZimLive
