HOT TOPICS ONLINE ............ *Mnangagwa, Chiwenga clash over war veterans as succession battle intensifies* (B24) *Mentally ill man rapes villager* (Byo24news) *Drunk woman kills neighbour over fence dispute* (Byo24News) *Stranger tricks mother, kidnaps 11-month-old baby in Budiriro* (Zbc) *Man left for dead for refusing to buy beer* (TellZim) *Zimbabwe deploys drones along Mozambique border to curb smuggling – report* (Manica Post) *Epworth man in court for raping, infecting with HIV, and forcefully marrying girl(17)* (Zbc) *WhatsApp’s New Feature Might Be a Gift to Con Artists* (The Zimbabwean) *3 people killed in a light aircraft crash in South Africa, authorities say* (Zimlive) *Zimbabwe Losing US$4 Billion To Looting Annually – Biti* (The Zimbabwean) ------ ©Zoomic Media https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaD22E27YScxhpM8Re26 *Mnangagwa, Chiwenga clash over war veterans as succession battle intensifies* (B24) The war veterans' constituency has emerged as a crucial battleground in the escalating political succession struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, as the fight for control of Zimbabwe's post-2028 leadership heats up. The war veterans, who hold historic significance due to their leading role in the country's liberation struggle, remain a powerful political force whose support is fiercely sought by both camps amid deepening factional divisions within ZANU PF. In January, while serving as acting president, Chiwenga launched a scathing attack on Mnangagwa and his faction, accusing the president of leading a kleptocratic regime rife with patronage, corruption, and nepotism. Central to Chiwenga's campaign was the mobilisation of war veterans, many of whom have grown disenchanted with Mnangagwa's leadership and oppose his bid to extend his rule beyond the constitutional limit of 2028 to 2030. Chiwenga's faction, supported by prominent war veterans such as Andreas Ethan Mathibela and Blessed Geza, has positioned itself as the voice of dissent within the veteran community. In response, Mnangagwa has mounted a vigorous counteroffensive aimed at winning over the veterans through a series of state-funded empowerment initiatives that critics say are intended to secure their loyalty and isolate Chiwenga. On Friday, Mnangagwa officially launched the Presidential War Veterans Empowerment Scheme at City Sports Centre in Harare, unveiling a $3.5 million package designed to support income-generating projects, housing, agriculture, mining, and water access for veterans and their families. The first $1.5 million has already been distributed evenly across Zimbabwe's 10 provinces, with each receiving $150,000. Another $2 million is slated to benefit war collaborators, ex-detainees, non-combatants, and war widows. The scheme includes a revolving fund offering interest-free loans to support veteran-led projects, a rural housing initiative to address the long-standing housing shortage among war veterans, and a borehole programme to improve access to clean water, thereby enhancing food security and rural livelihoods. Additionally, 50 tractors will be distributed on a zero-deposit basis to qualifying veteran farmers, while empowerment packages are also being rolled out to support veterans entering the mining sector. Observers see these initiatives as politically motivated maneuvers designed to reinforce Mnangagwa's position ahead of the 2028 succession deadline and to block Chiwenga's ambitions. Funded in part by state resources and Mnangagwa's wealthy allies, the empowerment schemes are widely viewed as a strategic effort to secure the veterans' crucial backing for Mnangagwa's plan to extend his rule to 2030 and to protect his interests post-presidency. Tensions between the two factions have been escalating since the ZANU PF annual conference in Bulawayo last October, where Mnangagwa was offered the controversial option to extend his rule beyond 2028, sparking angry dissent within the party. Since then, clashes between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga's supporters have become more overt, exposing deep rifts that threaten party unity. While Mnangagwa presents the empowerment efforts as part of a broader vision for national development, critics argue that his political record — marked by allegations of human rights abuses and corruption — undermines the sincerity of these programs. With the 2028 succession debate already fracturing the ruling party and the war veterans' loyalty hanging in the balance, analysts warn that Zimbabwe faces a volatile political future. The war veterans, long respected as kingmakers, now hold the power to influence whether Mnangagwa remains in control, whether Chiwenga ascends, or whether the party splinters amid unresolved tensions. "The war veterans are not just kingmakers. In this succession matrix, they could determine the fate of Zimbabwe's ruling elite and the stability of the country itself." ........ *Mentally ill man rapes villager* (Byo24news) by Simbarashe Sithole in Plumtree A 21-YEAR-OLD mentally ill man was dragged to court after he allegedly raped a 24-year-old woman in the bush. Philip Mhosva appeared before magistrate Joshua Nembaware who ordered him to be examined by two doctors in terms of mental health act. The state led by Selestine Madziwa alleged on May 31 at Maitengwe border Post borehole the accused met the complainant who was fetching water and asked to help the complainant push her wheelbarrow. The complainant agreed and on their way he grabbed dragged her in the Bush and raped her. The accused was seen raping the accused by her siblings before running away. A police report was filed leading to his arrest. Source - Byo24news ------ *Drunk woman kills neighbour over fence dispute* (Byo24News) by Simbarashe Sithole in Concession A 28-year-old woman is facing a murder charge after she allegedly stabbed her neighbour to death over a fire fence dispute. Rumbidzai Sekete of Watakai farm, Concession, is assisting police with investigations following the death of Sonisai Kugahanya, whom she allegedly stabbed to death in a fight. Sources close to investigations allege that sometime last week, the now deceased and the accused had an altercation over a fire fence. Yesterday, the deceased's son (12) assaulted the accused daughter (10) over their parents' beef. When her mother returned home around 7 pm under the influence of alcohol, she went to Kugahanya's house and the two had a knife fight. Kugahanya succumbed to injuries sustained in the fight. Sekete is set to appear in court tomorrow at Concession magistrates courts. Source - Byo24News ...... *Stranger tricks mother, kidnaps 11-month-old baby in Budiriro* (Zbc) Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse HARARE – A cloud of anxiety has engulfed the Budiriro community in Harare after an 11-month-old baby reportedly went missing under suspicious circumstances in what is believed to be a case of kidnapping. According to the mother, the alleged kidnapper only identified as Chihera was a regular customer at their tuck shop. “This lady used to buy at our tuck shop. I have known her for the past three months. She never said her name, so I used to call her Chihera. On Saturday she bought something in the morning and left her change. I went home in the afternoon and she came to my house to collect her change. I then rushed to the tuck shop to collect the money and left her with my 11-month-old baby,” the mother, Future Bonga narrated. “When I returned, she pleaded with me to give her my child so that she could babysit and return him later. I agreed and asked her to leave her phone number and directions to her house. Later on, around 5 PM I went to collect the baby but when I arrived at the place, I asked to see Chihera but I was told she doesn’t stay there and they do not know anybody who fits that description, even neighbours didn’t know her. We then filed a police report. The lady however once told me that she has never conceived in her lifetime.” The child’s father, Mr Simbarashe Basira, said the incident has left the family in turmoil, particularly as he had never seen or interacted with the woman. “I go to work and my wife is the one who takes care of the tuck shop business when I am not around. When I got home around 5 PM I did not see the baby. My wife told me that the baby was taken by Chihera, a regular customer. I was surprised because I do not know the lady in question, I then told her to go and collect the baby since it was getting late. She later came back saying she could not locate both the baby and Chihera.” The child’s grandmother, Gogo Anna Basira, expressed deep sorrow over the disappearance. “I was in Mutoko when this happened. I am devastated. I had planned to take the child with me next month since his mother is expecting another baby.” Zimbabwe Republic Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, urging parents to prioritise their children’s safety. “The Zimbabwe Public Police is investigating a case where an 11-month-old minor was allegedly kidnapped when a suspect who is yet to be identified approached the mother and requested to play with the child for two hours. In the process, she disappeared. What is puzzling is the fact that this suspect is not known where she resides and it is claimed that she was just coming to buy groceries at this tuck shop for the last three months. She is unknown at the address she gave to the mother. That is why we are always appealing to parents and members of the public not to trust strangers. When people come to you, firstly check their particulars in the way possible and verify with the Zimbabwe Public Police.” Police are appealing to members of the public with any information that may assist in locating the suspect and finding the child. .... *Man left for dead for refusing to buy beer* (TellZim) A casual beer outing in Chiredzi turned into a nightmare after a simple request for alcohol escalated into a vicious assault that left one man hospitalised in critical condition and another facing attempted murder charges. Kelvin Zambuko (31), of Village 4 Chikwirira, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder following a brutal attack on fellow villager Brighton Mupfumba (40). The incident occurred on May 29 at Chikwirira Township when Mupfumba reportedly refused to buy beer for Zambuko. According to Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, the confrontation took a violent turn when Zambuko struck Mupfumba on the head with a stone and beat him severely. "I confirm an incident of attempted murder where a man was attacked with a stone by the accused after he refused to buy beer for him at Chikwirira Township," said Insp Dhewa. "Brighton was admitted in serious condition and Zambuko was arrested and is assisting police with investigations. We urge members of the public to resolve disputes without resorting to violence." Reports indicate that Mupfumba had gone to the township around 3:00 PM to drink with friends and failed to return home that night. His 73-year-old father, Moses Mupfumba, searched for him in vain. The next morning, Moses discovered Brighton unconscious near the township. He quickly rushed him to Chikwirira Clinic for emergency medical attention. Upon regaining consciousness, Brighton identified Zambuko as his attacker, recounting how he had been assaulted after refusing to buy him alcohol. Due to the severity of his injuries, Brighton was later transferred to Chiredzi General Hospital, where he remains admitted under close medical observation. The case has reignited calls for peaceful conflict resolution in local communities, with authorities warning against the rising trend of violent disputes over trivial matters. Zambuko remains in custody as investigations continue. Source - TellZim ------- *Zimbabwe deploys drones along Mozambique border to curb smuggling – report* (Manica Post) The Zimbabwean government has intensified efforts to clamp down on smuggling along the country’s porous eastern border with Mozambique through the full-scale deployment of drone surveillance technology – a move officials say is already yielding tangible results. The drones, operational since May 1, 2025, are being used extensively along key smuggling hotspots, including the Forbes Border Post, which links Manicaland Province to Mozambique’s Manica Province. The new surveillance initiative has reportedly led to a decline in smuggling activities and an increase in arrests. Zimbabwe’s Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, confirmed the development and praised the role drones are playing in bolstering border security. “We have seen a notable decline in smuggling cases. Our security forces are vigilant and on top of the situation, thanks to the added surveillance capabilities provided by the drones,” said Mugadza. “They are also serving as a deterrent and helping to identify individuals involved in illegal activities.” The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (ZIMRA) acting Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Adrian Swarres, echoed Mugadza’s sentiments, highlighting the strategic benefits of drone technology. “Drones offer rapid deployment and real-time intelligence. With a borderline of over 700 kilometres, drones have dramatically increased the area under surveillance and reduced the need for extensive ground patrols,” he said. Police have also seen a rise in smuggling-related arrests. Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the trend, though he said specific figures were not immediately available. Field investigations by The Manica Post show that the crackdown has led some former smugglers to abandon the illicit trade. Dudzai Macheso, from Hauna in Honde Valley, said he had quit smuggling bales of second-hand clothes and opened a grocery shop instead. “Smuggling has become too risky with drones watching the border. I decided to start a legitimate business,” said Macheso. Meanwhile, authorities are not only relying on technology. A special police taskforce recently engaged in a fatal shootout with suspected smugglers, resulting in three arrests and the seizure of vehicles and contraband, including bales of clothing and shoes valued at thousands of dollars. Infrastructure During a recent inspection of Forbes Border Post, Zimbabwe’s Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube announced infrastructure development plans. “We have concessioned the redevelopment of Forbes Border Post to private investors who have demonstrated their capabilities at Beitbridge. We expect a modern and efficient facility,” said Ncube. The revamp is part of a broader government strategy to introduce computerised and online border management systems at all ports of entry, aimed at improving efficiency, curbing corruption, and strengthening border control. Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe recently announced the rollout of an integrated border management system that will link civil registry, police, and immigration departments. Most of the necessary hardware is already in place, with the installation of e-gates pending. “The system includes facial recognition technology and online automation to cut queues and reduce human error,” said Kazembe during a tour of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport immigration department. Additionally, plans are underway to open new formal entry points at Honde Valley and Cashel Valley to help decongest Forbes Border Post. Zimbabwe’s intensified focus on border control forms part of its wider national strategy to enhance security, streamline trade, and improve the travel experience for both citizens and visitors. Source: Manica Post ..... *Epworth man in court for raping, infecting with HIV, and forcefully marrying girl(17)* (Zbc) A 25-year-old man from Epworth, who allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl, before forcing her into marriage, has appeared in court on charges of rape. It is alleged that the accused infected the girl with HIV. He was remanded in custody pending finalisation of investigations. In another case, 25-year-old Knowledge Savadye was remanded in custody for allegedly attempting to kill his wife whom he stabbed in the stomach with a knife. The court heard that the couple had a misunderstanding which led the accused to stab his wife. She is currently hospitalised with reports indicating that she is in a serious condition. --- *WhatsApp’s New Feature Might Be a Gift to Con Artists* (The Zimbabwean) There is a seductive appeal to the word “privacy.” It conjures images of safety, control, and autonomy. It suggests a world in which one can participate without being exposed, speak without being watched, and interact without being tracked. So it’s no surprise that the tech world is constantly dressing its new features in the garments of privacy. But beneath the PR-friendly lingo, some of these changes are not only cosmetic, they are potentially catastrophic. One such change, looming on the digital horizon, is WhatsApp’s upcoming “username-only” feature, allowing users to message others without ever revealing their phone number. In a country where trust is already hanging by a thread and con artistry has become a competitive industry, it’s hard not to see the latest WhatsApp update: the option to message using just a username: as a gift wrapped with a bow for Zimbabwe’s ever-creative scammers. On paper, the change sounds progressive. More privacy, fewer spam messages, less exposure of personal phone numbers. It reads like a dream. But here’s the problem: dreams in Zimbabwe often end with someone waking up to an empty EcoCash wallet. There’s no denying that digital spaces are evolving. We’ve seen Telegram and Instagram operate through usernames for years. People exchange handles instead of digits. It adds a veneer of anonymity. That’s well and good in countries where anonymity doesn’t come with a side dish of fraud. But in Zimbabwe, where the phrase “It’s a scam” is as commonly heard as “Makadii,” anonymity is not just a feature, it’s a weapon. Ask anyone who has spent more than five minutes on Facebook lately, and they’ll tell you about the Wicknell Chivayo clones. Dozens of fake profiles, some with slight spelling changes, others using photos of him in suits, sometimes even standing next to high-ranking officials, are sending inboxes into overdrive. “Congratulations, you have been selected for a scholarship. Please send a small registration fee.” Or “We are giving away Toyota Aqua cars to celebrate Independence Day, inbox for details.” The tragedy isn’t that the accounts exist; it’s that people are falling for them. Now imagine this level of deception supercharged with a WhatsApp username that doesn’t require a visible phone number. Suddenly, scammers don’t even need to go through the hassle of buying a NetOne line with fake IDs. They don’t need burner phones. All they need is a catchy username: something like @DrWicknellOfficial or @PresidentialDonor: and boom, they’re back in business. To understand why this is concerning, you have to appreciate how scams have evolved in Zimbabwe. Gone are the days of email princes and dubious inheritance claims. Today’s fraudsters are savvy. They understand local culture, mimic local speech patterns, and know how to tug at people’s economic desperation. They offer mining deals. They impersonate civil servants processing residential stands. They claim to represent NGOs handing out school fees. And they do it with terrifying accuracy. The only safeguard left in many cases has been the phone number. People have gotten smart. They copy and paste the number into Truecaller or Ecocash. They ask mutual friends if the number is legit. They look for inconsistencies. But when you take away the number entirely and replace it with something vague like @BlesserZim2025, you cut that layer of scrutiny. Now the scammer is just a character, slick, smooth-talking, and completely untraceable. WhatsApp, to its credit, has said usernames will have to be unique. There will be restrictions to avoid usernames that look like websites. But that’s cosmetic. Anyone who has ever registered a username online knows how easy it is to play with spellings. @W1cknell. @Wicknel_zw. @RealWiknel. All sound the same when whispered into the inbox of a desperate citizen hoping for an opportunity. And that’s the dark genius of it. This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s a reflection of patterns we’ve already seen. In just the past few months, several Zimbabweans have come forward with stories of being duped by people pretending to be Chivayo, church leaders, or government officials. One woman in Karoi sold her only cow after being promised a vending license in Harare. Another in Bulawayo lost USD 300 to a fake bursary program that never existed. Each of these scams began on Facebook and moved to WhatsApp. The bridge was the phone number. Remove the bridge, and you remove accountability. What’s worse is the psychological impact. Scams don’t just steal money; they steal hope. They humiliate. They make people suspicious of legitimate offers. They create an environment of paranoia, where even a genuine message from a real donor is met with a raised eyebrow and a “hmmm, hazvizi zvidhiri zvekuWhatsApp here izvi?” The introduction of usernames will amplify this confusion. Let’s be fair. WhatsApp is trying to do the right thing in the broad sense. There’s a growing global demand for digital privacy. In many contexts, it makes sense to hide your number. But Zimbabwe doesn’t exist in abstract. It exists in crisis. Here, privacy can easily be repurposed into predation. Here, features that protect can just as easily conceal. The timing of this development is also key. As our economy continues its erratic dance, more and more Zimbabweans are being pushed online in search of business, employment, and connection. WhatsApp has become more than a messaging app, it’s now a marketplace, a job board, a customer service portal, a religious platform, even a government information source. In a country where institutions are unreliable, the app has become an institution in itself. So when that institution decides to make a major change, it’s not just a technical update. It’s a cultural shift. We’ve already seen how scammers weaponize institutional trust. When Econet sends out a broadcast message, fake messages in its style follow within hours. When the Ministry of Education announces an initiative, WhatsApp groups erupt with “official” PDF flyers offering fake versions of the same. The moment WhatsApp introduces usernames, there will be a flood of “official” usernames pretending to be ministries, embassies, donors, and influencers. And unlike phone numbers, which can sometimes be traced to a location or a sim card registration, usernames offer no such breadcrumb trail. You can report them, sure. But how fast will WhatsApp respond? Will there be local moderation teams? Will people be able to recover lost funds? Or will it be the usual “we are investigating the issue” while more people get robbed? A username system would make sense in a country where the digital literacy of the average person is high. Where citizens are taught how to verify digital identities. Where impersonation is punished swiftly and efficiently. But Zimbabwe is not there yet. Most people still forward chain messages believing they’ll get free data. They screenshot and circulate fake job adverts. They click links that lead nowhere. Introducing usernames into this mix is like tossing a bottle of whiskey into a kindergarten classroom and hoping no one gets drunk. There’s also a psychological trick scammers use that the username feature will reinforce: false familiarity. When someone messages you from a strange number, you pause. But when they appear with a username that sounds legit: @HelpZimMothers or @MinistryYouthZim: they trick the brain into lowering its guard. And in that small moment of trust, the scam is born. If WhatsApp insists on rolling out this feature, and it seems it will, then it must be paired with aggressive local education. Not just generic videos about “online safety,” but community-based digital literacy programs. It should work with MNOs, civil society, and maybe even churches to warn people. There must be a verification system for official usernames. Ministries must publicly list their real usernames. NGOs must pin their official handles. Without this, it will be chaos. We have already seen how little it takes to deceive in this country. A few stolen photos, a kind tone, and a broken promise is all it takes. With usernames, that deception becomes frictionless. It becomes scalable. It becomes harder to reverse. So before we jump to celebrate this new wave of anonymity, let’s remember where we are. Zimbabwe is not some data-privacy utopia. It is a place where people are already being squeezed by crooks in suits and crooks in sandals. And now the ones in WhatsApp avatars may get a new tool in their belt. Usernames may protect privacy in theory. But in practice, in Zimbabwe, they may just become another mask for criminals who have already perfected the art of pretending. We need more transparency, not less. We need more verification, not just vague usernames. Because in a country this wounded, the last thing we need is another digital costume for the wolves to wear. Kumbirai Thierry Nhamo || Social Justice Activist and Writer Contact: [email protected] or WhatsApp +263780022343 © The Zimbabwean ...... *3 people killed in a light aircraft crash in South Africa, authorities say* (Zimlive) ‘It was part of a group of 3 light aircraft caught in bad weather while flying from Durban to Pretoria’ JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Three people on board a light aircraft died when it crashed in South Africa, authorities said Monday. The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center said it had located the wreckage of the aircraft near the town of Greytown in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal after it went missing Sunday. There were no survivors, the rescue service said. A female student pilot was among the fatalities, according to the KwaZulu-Natal provincial department for transport and human settlements. The department said the aircraft took off from an airport near the east coast city of Durban on Sunday but failed to reach its intended destination. South African media reported it was part of a group of three light aircraft that were caught in bad weather while flying from Durban to South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria. One of the other aircraft crash-landed near Greytown but no one was seriously hurt, local media reported. ----- *Zimbabwe Losing US$4 Billion To Looting Annually – Biti* (The Zimbabwean) Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has warned that Zimbabwe is spiralling into collapse under the weight of failed monetary reforms, unchecked corruption, and systemic mismanagement. In his remarks reflecting on the current state of the economy, Biti said the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency in April 2024 marked the beginning of what he called “economic carnage,” with massive consequences for production, employment, and livelihoods. Biti said: There is carnage in the economy. The introduction of the ZIG in April 2024 marked a significant slide towards collapse, deceleration and shrinkage. The ZiG-induced depression has seen companies close or exit and a massive devaluation of social services. The former minister, who oversaw economic stabilisation during the Government of National Unity (GNU) era from 2009 to 2013, said the retail sector is buckling under the combined pressures of exchange rate volatility, high taxation, overregulation, and a rapidly expanding informal economy that now dominates urban commerce. Biti pointed to the worsening power supply crisis as a key driver of economic deterioration, accusing the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) of failing to meet energy demands necessary to sustain industrial activity and protect jobs. Beyond structural inefficiencies, Biti highlighted rampant corruption at the heart of government operations as a major drag on economic recovery. He said: Public procurement, fuel, commodities, and Treasury disbursements have become major centres of looting. Easily, US$4 is being lost annually through blatant looting by political cartels and bandits. Biti was particularly critical of the monetary authorities’ handling of the exchange rate and currency reforms, describing the ZiG dollar as a “myth” designed to enable state-backed extraction through manipulation and fraud. Despite authorities’ efforts to promote the local unit, Biti noted that 80% of all transactions in Zimbabwe are still conducted in US dollars, revealing the collapse of confidence in the new currency. He said: De-dollarisation is a failed ritual, with 80 % of all transactions done in US$. The ZIG$ is a myth, a lie, imposed to guarantee extraction through exchange manipulation and fraud. He warned that mismanagement of exchange controls has fueled hyperinflation and wiped out the real value of public sector wages, pushing civil servants into poverty. The human cost of the economic implosion is already visible. Biti pointed out that university lecturers have been on strike since April, citing eroded wages, and over 5,000 teachers have exited public service, unable to survive on current salaries. © The Zimbabwean 2005 - 2025