Mzembi is alive, family dismisses death reports

Family members and close associates of former Tourism and later Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi have dismissed as false social media reports claiming that he has died in detention, saying the former cabinet minister is alive but facing difficult conditions in prison.

Speaking to this publication, a family member described the reports of Mzembi's death as malicious and irresponsible.

"That's fake news circulating on social media by unscrupulous individuals who lie about people's lives, in this case death, without considering the impact on their children, family and friends," the family member said.

"Mzembi is alive, but obviously his situation is extremely difficult and has had a negative impact on his health. He is, however, soldiering on."

Unverified claims of Mzembi's death began circulating widely on social media platforms this week, triggering concern among supporters and the public. The family's clarification comes amid growing speculation about his health while in custody.

Mzembi, who served under the late former president Robert Mugabe, was arrested on June 13, 2025, shortly after returning to Zimbabwe from a seven-year self-imposed exile. His arrest was based on outstanding warrants issued in 2018 and 2019 after he failed to appear in court for trial.

The warrants relate to several corruption and criminal abuse of office charges. These include allegations that he misappropriated television sets worth about US$2 million that were meant for public viewing during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as well as the alleged misuse of US$1.6 million intended for the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Since his arrest, both the magistrates' court and the High Court have denied Mzembi bail, citing the risk that he could abscond again given his previous lengthy absence from the country. As a result, he has remained in remand prison for more than six months.

Concerns about Mzembi's health have persisted throughout his detention. Some sources have claimed that he is critically ill and may be suffering a recurrence of colon cancer. However, his family has stopped short of confirming these reports, saying only that his health has been negatively affected by incarceration.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service and the Ministry of Justice had not commented on the reports at the time of going to print.