Outspoken former ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa has revealed that his rural home in Shurugwi was set ablaze by unknown assailants on Wednesday night, in what he described as a politically motivated attempt on his life.
Temba Mliswa, who also serves as a village head in the area, disclosed the incident through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday morning. He linked the arson attack to his long-standing outspokenness against corruption and lack of accountability in government.
“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!” he wrote.
His reference to Nyadzonia — the 1976 Rhodesian army massacre at a ZANLA camp in Mozambique where more than 1,000 refugees were killed — underscored the gravity with which he framed the attack, portraying it as an act of political terror designed to silence him.
Temba Mliswa is no stranger to controversy within Zimbabwean politics. During his tenure as ZANU PF provincial chairman for Mashonaland West, he often clashed with senior party figures, including former First Lady Grace Mugabe, during the factional battles that eventually led to the ouster of Robert Mugabe in 2017.
He was expelled from ZANU PF in 2014, accused of undermining the party, but later reinvented himself as an independent legislator. Even outside formal party structures, he remained an influential figure, often positioning himself as a political broker with grassroots support. His sharp criticisms of ruling elites have made him both a target of hostility and a valued mobiliser, depending on shifting factional alliances.
The torching of his rural home follows a series of recent hostilities directed at him. Earlier this week, Mliswa alleged that his vehicle had been vandalised, an incident he also linked to his outspoken criticisms of top government officials.
Temba Mliswa’s Shurugwi Home Torched Amid Intensifying Political Feuds
The latest attack comes amid Mliswa’s escalating war of words with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, whom he accuses of using the anti-corruption drive as a weapon to settle personal scores. Central to this feud is the ongoing controversy surrounding businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who has been under scrutiny amid allegations of fraud and corruption.
Temba Mliswa claims Chiwenga’s targeting of Chivayo is less about fighting corruption and more about personal vendettas stemming from financial disputes. He alleged that during Chiwenga’s 2022 wedding to Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi, the vice president made extravagant financial demands from Chivayo, who was allegedly pressured into bankrolling the event.
According to Mliswa, Chivayo was expected to provide millions of dollars, including six Rolls-Royce vehicles, US$250,000 for wedding preparations, US$250,000 for a Seychelles honeymoon, R1 million for shopping in South Africa, R1 million for gifts, and US$450,000 for luxury apartments for Chiwenga’s children. While Chivayo reportedly delivered most of these demands, Mliswa claims the fallout began after he failed to provide an outstanding US$150,000.
“The whole anti-Chivayo crusade is nothing more than payback. It has nothing to do with genuine anti-corruption reform,” Temba Mliswa charged in recent remarks, further accusing Chiwenga of destabilising government operations by openly confronting President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Politburo meetings.
Temba Mliswa’s blunt accusations have intensified political tensions, making him a lightning rod for retaliation. Despite being cast out of ZANU PF more than a decade ago, he has consistently managed to survive Zimbabwe’s turbulent political landscape. His reputation as an independent voice against corruption has kept him in the spotlight, even as his critics accuse him of opportunism and political grandstanding.
A leaked audio recording circulating recently appeared to capture Mliswa advising allies to pragmatically “support whoever is in power” because “toda kudya, tine mhuri” (we must eat, we have families). While the audio sparked debate about his political convictions, it also reinforced his image as a hardened survivor navigating Zimbabwe’s factional currents.
The attack on Mliswa’s home signals a possible escalation in the hostilities surrounding his political activities. While no suspects have been identified, his insistence that the incident was politically motivated underscores the fraught environment in which outspoken figures operate in Zimbabwe.
For Temba Mliswa, the incident will likely strengthen his narrative of being persecuted for speaking truth to power. Whether it results in greater public sympathy or further political isolation remains to be seen.
As investigations into the arson continue, questions linger about the extent to which Zimbabwe’s political disputes are spilling into violence. For Temba Mliswa, however, the message is already clear: challenging entrenched interests comes at a cost.
Source- ZimEye
