Zimbabwe’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Walter Mzembi, is reported to be in serious condition and under hospital care at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare. His hospitalisation comes amid renewed scrutiny of Zimbabwe’s deteriorating public health infrastructure, with medical staff reportedly raising concerns over shortages of critical drugs and equipment needed to treat his condition.
The 60-year-old politician, who also previously served as Tourism Minister under the late former President Robert Mugabe, is said to be suffering from an enlarged heart and severe swelling in his lower limbs. Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono broke the news of Mzembi’s health status on social media, quoting medical personnel at Parirenyatwa. According to Chin’ono, a prison official also confirmed that Mzembi had collapsed while in custody last week.
Walter Mzembi was arrested on June 14 in Harare following his return to Zimbabwe after seven years in exile. He had been living in Eswatini, South Africa, and Zambia, having fled the country in the aftermath of the 2017 military-assisted political transition that saw Mugabe deposed and replaced by then-Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. His arrest is reportedly linked to allegations of corruption and abuse of office during his time as Tourism Minister—charges that date back more than a decade.
Sources close to the case say Mzembi was intercepted and taken into custody while travelling from Zambia. His return and subsequent detention have reignited political debate over the state’s treatment of former Mugabe-era officials, many of whom have either faced prosecution, gone into exile, or been sidelined from public life since the coup.
While Walter Mzembi remains under medical supervision, growing attention has turned to the condition of Parirenyatwa Hospital itself, which has long symbolised the broader crisis within Zimbabwe’s public health sector. Once a leading referral centre in the region, Parirenyatwa has struggled for years with chronic underfunding, outdated equipment, and acute shortages of medicines and consumables.
Health workers at the institution, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the hospital is ill-equipped to manage complex cases like Mzembi’s. “The former minister’s condition is serious. He requires specialist cardiac care and certain drugs that are simply not available here. We are doing what we can, but the system is broken,” one doctor said.
Walter Mzembi Hospitalised at Parirenyatwa as Health Crisis Deepens in Zimbabwe
His situation has prompted calls from human rights groups and political observers for the state to ensure that detainees—particularly those in vulnerable health—receive adequate medical attention in line with international standards.
“It is not just about Walter Mzembi,” said one legal advocate. “This case exposes what many ordinary citizens face daily: hospitals without medicines, broken equipment, and a system that punishes illness with neglect. If a high-profile detainee like him can’t get proper care, what about the average Zimbabwean?”
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) regarding Walter Mzembi’s condition, nor from the Ministry of Health and Child Care. However, legal representatives for the former minister are believed to be preparing to seek bail on medical grounds, arguing that continued detention may endanger his life.
Walter Mzembi’s political journey has been tumultuous. Once viewed as one of the younger reform-minded figures within ZANU-PF, he was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister just months before Mugabe’s ouster. His attempts to re-enter Zimbabwean politics from abroad were met with resistance from the current administration, which continues to crack down on former regime officials seen as disloyal or politically inconvenient.
Observers say his case represents a complex intersection of justice, retribution, and political optics. “We’re seeing a continuation of the post-Mugabe clean-up, but also a failure of the state to uphold basic health rights for all—even for its prisoners,” said one analyst.
Meanwhile, public reaction has been mixed. While some Zimbabweans have expressed sympathy over Mzembi’s health ordeal, others see it as a cautionary tale about the consequences of political fallouts. Social media has been awash with commentary, with many drawing comparisons to other high-profile political figures who have suffered or died while in custody.
As the situation unfolds, Walter Mzembi ’s fate remains uncertain—both medically and legally. What is clear, however, is that his hospitalisation has once again cast a harsh spotlight on Zimbabwe’s broken healthcare system, where even the politically powerful are not spared from its failings.
