Walter Mzembi begs to rejoin Zanu PF?

Former Cabinet minister Walter Mzembi has formally applied to rejoin Zanu PF, years after he was expelled from the ruling party and fled the country following the 2017 military-assisted transition that ended Robert Mugabe's presidency.

Mzembi, once regarded as a key figure in Mugabe's administration and a prominent member of the G40 faction, served as Tourism Minister before later becoming Foreign Affairs Minister. He was also involved in the bitter succession battle between Mugabe's G40 camp and the faction aligned to Emmerson Mnangagwa, commonly known as Lacoste.

His bid to return to the ruling party was discussed during an emergency Provincial Executive Council (PEC) meeting held recently at Masvingo Polytechnic.

In a letter tabled before the PEC, Mzembi formally requested that his membership be restored.

"I write to respectfully apply for readmission into Zanu PF. My membership was rescinded by a special emergency central committee meeting on November 19, 2017," reads part of the letter.

"I sincerely wish to renew my membership and contribute positively to its programmes and activities. Zanu PF is a party of depth, and I wish to contribute to its development. I commit to uphold the constitution of the party if readmitted."

The application reportedly triggered debate among provincial party members.

Some members supported his return but said he should start again as a card-carrying member at cell level and should not be given any leadership position.

Others opposed the application, arguing that Mzembi had continued attacking the party on social media and should therefore not be readmitted.

The matter remained unresolved until Provincial Political Commissar Brian Munyoro proposed that Mzembi be summoned before the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) to respond to questions surrounding his case.

The PEC also resolved that some of his posts on Facebook and X should be printed and presented to him so that he could respond to allegations that he had criticised the ruling party.

Mzembi's application comes amid attempts by several former G40 members to return to the Zanu PF fold following former ruling party heavyweight Saviour Kasukuwere's unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2023.

Mzembi was expelled from Zanu PF following the November 2017 political upheaval and subsequently went into exile, first in South Africa and later Zambia.

He also faced corruption allegations relating to his tenure as Tourism Minister.

After returning to Zimbabwe in June 2025, Mzembi was arrested on outstanding warrants relating to allegations of criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property.

However, in May 2026, he was acquitted of charges relating to the donation of four LED television sets valued at about US$200,000 to churches, including Emmanuel Makandiwa's United Family International Church, without Treasury approval.

His application for readmission is now set to be considered further by Zanu PF structures, with the provincial leadership expected to hear his response before making a decision.