Mzembi's Checkered Past Haunts Him

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Chief Reporter

Former Zimbabwean cabinet minister Walter Mzembi's checkered political history has come back to haunt him as he faces potential deportation from South Africa, ZimNow can reveal.

Mzembi's troubles were compounded by the detention of his daughter, Gabriella, at a Spanish airport last week. She was later assisted by the German Embassy.

Currently, Mzembi is residing with his brother's son, who works for a telecoms company in South Africa. However, sources close to the matter indicate that Mzembi's immigration issues are politically motivated rather than arising from genuine concerns about his status.

Mzembi is allegedly frustrated over a decision made by a Station Manager, which he believes is "irrational and unjust." He plans to appeal this decision through the South African Embassy in Lusaka. Mzembi initially believed that the decision could be overturned by higher authorities, such as the Border Control Commissioner, but they were unavailable. South African Intelligence reportedly tried to intervene at the highest level but received the same response.

It is believed that Mzembi's troubles are linked to a fallout with his former G40 allies, including Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao. Mzembi holds a passport issued by the King of Eswatini, which allows him to travel freely within the SADC region.

Recently, Mzembi ran into trouble with immigration officials in South Africa, prompting speculation about a potential deportation process. He has since flown to Lusaka, Zambia, where he is currently residing. Mzembi's immigration status is under scrutiny, with sources suggesting that he overstayed his welcome in South Africa and attempted to manipulate dates by visiting Lesotho.

The former minister has a scheduled interview for a US visa on December 5, which may now be impossible due to his current situation.

Inside sources close to Mzembi told ZimNow that his plan to move to the US is triggered by his precarious financial position, which forced him to dispose of some of his properties in the leafy suburbs of Harare and liquidate his tourism company, previously located at Number 1 Union Avenue.

A ZimNow source believes that Mzembi is being unfairly targeted for political reasons.

"We are shocked and disappointed by the recent developments. Mzembi is a respected figure in the region, and we believe that his immigration issues are being unfairly politicized," the source said.

Zimbabwean authorities initiated the extradition process for Mzembi in 2019. He was allegedly hiding in South Africa and was supposed to stand trial for charges of theft of trust property, which allegedly occurred during his tenure as a cabinet minister.

Mzembi's lawyer, Job Sikhala, had previously claimed that his client was critically ill and unfit to stand trial. However, this claim was contradicted by a video showing Mzembi fit and jovial, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

Mzembi is facing charges of US$1.6 million for the theft of trust property and another charge involving US$184,336. He is accused of conspiring with two others to seize vehicles that should have been surrendered after the 2013 UNWTO General Assembly in Victoria Falls.

In a related development, Mzembi's alleged accomplices, Margaret Sangarwe and Aaron Mushoriwa, successfully applied to have their reporting conditions removed. However, their bid to refuse further remand was unsuccessful, despite arguing that they had been on remand for an extended period without going to trial.

Repeated attempts to solicit a comment from Mzembi were unsuccessful, despite numerous efforts to contact him through various communication channels.