By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwe’s political soap opera has taken a fresh twist after fiery former legislator Temba Mliswa went on the offensive, blasting claims that he betrayed exiled former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi and lured him into a trap.
The accusations that Mliswa acted as a state agent helping the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) snare Mzembi have been circulating online, pushed by figures sympathetic to exiled politician Saviour Kasukuwere. Mliswa, never one to hold back, says it’s all “hogwash” designed to smear his name.
“The Mzembi issue is an unfortunate exhibition of callous politicians conveniently altering facts and pseudo-journalists crafting an alternative reality for excitable masses to imbibe on. It’s a total shame to accuse me or anyone of enticing him back. This was his own idea!” Mliswa fumed on X.
Mliswa insists there was no spy operation, instead pointing fingers at Mzembi’s own messy fallout with his former ally Kasukuwere. According to Mliswa, the two hadn’t spoken in over a year and Mzembi was running scared first fleeing South Africa for Zambia before reaching out to him.
“There was never any CIO operation because Mzembi APPROACHED ME. He felt unsafe which is why he moved from SA to Zambia!” Mliswa declared.
He also tore into political activist Ali Naka, describing him as a “gun for hire” doing Kasukuwere’s bidding.
Accusations that he worked with intelligence services touched a nerve. Mliswa thundered back:
“All this talk about me selling him out is noonday hogwash. I’m no spy and never worked for CIO. Characters like Ali Naka are merely guns for hire operating as Sekuru Tyson’s instruments.”
Mliswa portrays himself not as a betrayer, but as a middleman, saying he only helped Mzembi engage with authorities just as he had done for Kasukuwere in 2018.
“What part of those actions constitutes enticing him back? I simply spoke with the powers that be. Whatever else they agreed or didn’t, I was never part of!”
The drama has even spilled into Mliswa’s personal life. He accused his critics of exploiting his ex-partner Susan’s mental health struggles to tarnish him further.
“Stop abusing Susan’s condition for your agendas. She’s the mother of my son show some respect,” he fired.
True to form, Mliswa ended his rant with a parting shot at journalists and rivals he says are obsessed with conspiracy theories:
“Unless we cultivate a critical mindset we will be perpetually ensnared by manufactured narratives by people with ulterior agendas.”