Missing Zanu-PF councillor mystery rocks family

For the Konjana family in Chegutu, every passing car, late-night knock, and unfamiliar footstep now triggers fear and anxiety. A week after Chegutu Ward 1 councillor-elect Gift Konjana was reported missing, his home has become a tense space where hope and worry sit uneasily side by side.

Konjana, who recently won the Chegutu Ward 1 seat on a Zanu-PF ticket after defecting from the MDC Alliance, disappeared shortly after his by-election victory last Saturday.

Inside the family's modest home, mobile phones are constantly checked, conversations are brief and strained, and relatives come and go, offering comfort while seeking answers that are unavailable.

"It's too much for me. Please leave me alone," said his wife, Jessy Garikai, her voice trembling with emotion.

Their eldest son, Hamandishe, described the uncertainty as the hardest part. "We don't know whether he is safe or not, dead or alive. We don't know where he is. Not knowing is what is hurting us the most."

Delan, the younger son, revealed how nights have become particularly difficult for their mother. "She wakes up at the slightest sound. Even the barking of dogs makes her think maybe he is outside," he said.

The disappearance has disrupted the family's daily routines, from meals to school runs and church attendance, leaving a sense of unease that extends into the wider community.

Zanu-PF's director of information and publicity, Farai Marapira, said the party is awaiting updates from law enforcement. "As Zanu-PF, we understand that this matter is now in the hands of the police and we have full belief in the police's capacity and ability to handle it. We are waiting to be advised on what has happened," he said.

More than 200 Zanu-PF members gathered at Mataka Shopping Centre on Friday for prayers and a community search. Chegutu district political commissariat member George Gangarahwe urged party members to mobilize in the search for the missing councillor. "Following the disappearance of our newly elected councillor Gift Konjana to date, Zanu-PF Chegutu admin leadership is inviting all members to gather for prayer and a thorough search," he said.

Gangarahwe added that local members are doing all they can through prayers and searches in neighbouring communities.

Former MDC youth leader Peter Liwanda, who was once incarcerated alongside Konjana over alleged arson charges, expressed concern over the situation. "It's a complicated situation when someone crosses the floor to Zanu-PF and then disappears. We have unanswered questions—was he fully accepted? Were some top Zanu-PF unsettled by his popularity? Did he find himself caught in internal factional dynamics?"

Konjana's sudden absence has left a void not only politically but also within the household, where he was the central figure and primary provider. Friends and neighbours said the situation has cast a shadow over the entire Chegutu community.

"You cannot celebrate when someone is missing. The mood has completely changed," said a neighbour.

The Konjana family continues to search for answers. "We just want to know where he is and, whatever the situation, we need the truth," Hamandishe said.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed there is currently no new update from Mashonaland West province regarding the case.

The search and prayers continue as the community anxiously hopes for Konjana's safe return.