Vice President Kembo Campbell Dugish Mohadi has stepped in as Acting President of Zimbabwe following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s departure to South Africa, where he is attending the 2025 Liberation Movements Summit. The high-level gathering brings together leaders and representatives of liberation-era ruling parties from across the continent to discuss shared history, development goals, and regional cooperation.
Held under the theme “Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa,” the summit convenes political heavyweights from movements that fought colonial rule and now govern their respective nations. These include South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), Mozambique’s FRELIMO, Angola’s MPLA, Namibia’s SWAPO, Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and Zimbabwe’s own ZANU PF. With its liberation credentials, ZANU PF plays a prominent role in the summit, reinforcing its identity as a key player in post-colonial African politics.
President Mnangagwa is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, focused on strengthening diplomatic ties, boosting regional economic integration, and promoting security collaboration. The summit provides a strategic platform for Zimbabwe to reaffirm its regional alliances amid mounting domestic and international pressure over political and economic issues.
Mohadi Assumes Acting Presidency as Mnangagwa Attends Liberation Movements Summit
In Mnangagwa’s absence, Vice President Mohadi has been tasked with leading government business and overseeing national affairs. The appointment comes at a time of heightened political attention, following a recent wave of online disinformation that falsely claimed Mohadi had been replaced due to poor health.
The disinformation campaign took the form of a fake presidential statement, which went viral on social media platforms last week. It falsely alleged that retired Brigadier General and Ambassador Ambrose Mutinhiri had been appointed as the new Vice President of Zimbabwe. The fabricated statement cited health concerns as the reason for Mohadi’s supposed dismissal and attempted to validate the claim with a glowing summary of Mutinhiri’s military and diplomatic service.
Government officials swiftly responded to the online claims, dismissing them as baseless and legally flawed. Information Secretary Nick Mangwana publicly debunked the statement, pointing out its erroneous citation of the Zimbabwean Constitution. “Section 205(1) of the Constitution is about Permanent Secretaries, not Vice Presidents,” Mangwana wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. He urged citizens to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of government announcements before sharing them.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba also issued a stern rebuke, calling the fake announcement a “fraudulent misuse of social media” with potentially serious consequences. “This kind of forgery is not just reckless; it’s dangerous and illegal,” he said. Charamba emphasized that the government would not hesitate to take action against those responsible for spreading disinformation.
The viral post is part of a growing trend of politically motivated fake news in Zimbabwe, where social media has become a powerful tool for shaping public discourse—sometimes with harmful consequences. Experts warn that such tactics are aimed at sowing confusion and distrust, especially in a political environment already marked by speculation over leadership succession, governance challenges, and economic instability.
The incident has reignited concerns over the regulation of digital communication, with some in government pushing for tighter controls over social media platforms. However, critics argue that such measures may risk infringing on freedom of expression if not carefully balanced.
Despite the online speculation, authorities have reaffirmed that there is no change in the leadership structure and that Vice President Mohadi remains firmly in office. His assumption of the Acting Presidency is a routine constitutional procedure that ensures continuity of government while the Head of State is engaged in international diplomacy.
As Zimbabweans digest the latest developments, officials are urging the public to rely on credible and official sources of information. “In this age of digital communication, misinformation can spread like wildfire,” Mangwana said. “We encourage citizens to trust only verified government channels for announcements of national importance.”
While President Mnangagwa represents the country at a critical continental forum, Acting President Mohadi now holds the reins back home, overseeing national priorities and maintaining governance continuity. With Zimbabwe facing mounting economic pressures, electricity shortages, and growing concerns over service delivery, Mohadi’s temporary stewardship will be closely watched both within political circles and by the general public.
As the country navigates this period, the government’s ability to maintain transparency, curb disinformation, and reassure citizens of stability remains key to preserving public trust.
