Charamba disowns 'Chiwenga demo statement'

President Emmerson Mnangagwa's spokesperson, George Charamba, has disowned a statement circulating online purportedly issued by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga warning against planned mass demonstrations on October 17, 2025.

Writing on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account @Jamwanda2, Charamba condemned the use of official government stationery in what he described as a fraudulent act meant to lend credibility to a forged document.

"ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT STATIONERY: Kindly note that the message below, however well-intentioned, has been pasted on government stationery, without the knowledge, involvement or sanction of the Department of Presidential Communications, to which the original stationery belongs," Charamba said.

ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT STATIONERY: KINDLY NOTE THAT THE MESSAGE BELOW, HOWEVER WELL-INTENTIONED, HAS BEEN PASTED ON GOVERNMENT STATIONERY, WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, INVOLVEMENT OR SANCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS, TO WHICH THE ORIGINAL STATIONERY BELONGS. BONA… pic.twitter.com/XRu3URfOh9

— Jamwanda (@Jamwanda2) October 16, 2025

He added that all authentic communications from the Office of the President and Cabinet bear distinct security features and genuine signatures of authorised officials.

"Bona fide messages from sincere sources never forge or fraudulently abuse government stationery to redeem themselves. We regard such a seemingly well-meant messaging act as a thin end of the wedge; left unchallenged, the next act is downright criminality," he warned.

The disowned statement, allegedly issued by Vice President Chiwenga, had cautioned citizens against participating in a planned mass demonstration, describing it as "unauthorised, illegal, and a direct threat to national peace and stability." It had further warned that anyone found organising or taking part in the march would face arrest and prosecution.

However, Charamba's clarification suggests that the document did not originate from the Vice President's office, and was instead a forged communication designed to mislead the public.

Sources within government communications circles said the fake statement appeared to have been crafted to look official, complete with the Vice President's name, title, and official letterhead, a move Charamba described as a "serious breach of state communication protocol."

The fake message had gone viral across social media platforms on Thursday, amid growing online chatter calling for nationwide protests over economic conditions. Authorities have not confirmed whether an investigation has been launched into the forgery, but security agencies have reportedly been placed on alert ahead of the proposed demonstration date.

Officials from the Department of Presidential Communications and the Ministry of Information could not be reached for immediate comment.

Charamba's intervention comes at a time of heightened political tension within Zimbabwe's ruling elite and growing unease over the circulation of unofficial statements attributed to senior government figures. His warning underscores the administration's sensitivity to misinformation that could inflame public sentiment or expose divisions within the upper echelons of power.