Outspoken former ZANU PF Mashonaland West Provincial chairman Temba Mliswa says his home in rural Shurugwi was set on fire by unknown attackers on Wednesday night.
Mliswa, who’s also a village head in the area, posted on X on Thursday that he believes he was targeted because of his calls for government officials to be more accountable and transparent. He wrote:
“I have always known that corruption fights back and am prepared for everything. Last night they sneaked and burnt my house in Shurugwi all because I asked for accountability and transparency. Thank God no one was hurt. Mapisa Nyadzonia!”
Nyadzonia, near Chimoio in Mozambique, was originally a refugee camp for Zimbabweans fleeing the war of Independence in the 1970s, but later became a ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army) base with limited military training.
On 9 August 1976, Rhodesian Security Forces, disguised as Mozambican FRELIMO soldiers, attacked Nyadzonia using napalm, artillery, and small arms. The assault was indiscriminate, killing over 1,000 people, mostly unarmed civilians.
The alleged arson at Temba Mliswa’s home came after a leaked audio between him and his associate Bopela.
In the recording, Mliswa is heard speaking candidly about political survival and loyalty. He said:
“Support whoever is in power. Toda kudya, tine mhuri.”
Mliswa has recently made a series of sharp and controversial remarks about Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
He accused Chiwenga of using the anti-corruption narrative as a smokescreen for personal vendettas, particularly targeting Wicknell Chivayo.
According to Mliswa, Chiwenga’s push for Chivayo’s arrest is not about genuine reform but stems from unresolved financial disputes between the two.
Mliswa alleges that Chivayo was asked to fund Chiwenga’s 2022 wedding to Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi, including six Rolls-Royce vehicles, US$250,000 for wedding preparations, another US$250,000 for the honeymoon in Seychelles, R1 million for shopping in South Africa, R1 million for a gift, and US$450,000 for apartments for Chiwenga’s children—of which US$300,000 was reportedly delivered. The fallout, Mliswa claims, began when the remaining US$150,000 was not paid.
He also criticised Chiwenga for publicly confronting President Mnangagwa during a Politburo meeting, saying such matters should be handled privately.
Mliswa added that Chiwenga should be grateful for his position, suggesting that Mnangagwa has been unusually lenient by not dismissing him.
Following the alleged vandalism of his car earlier his week, Mliswa hinted that the attack may have been retaliation for his outspoken criticism of the vice president.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Mliswa left the country for Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday afternoon
COMMENTS