A public dispute erupted on Monday within Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party, as liberation war veteran, Blessed Geza accused former Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa of receiving money from President Emmerson Mnangagwa to launch a smear campaign against Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
The allegations were swiftly followed by a public address by Mliswa, where he addressed the claims and criticized the approach to fighting corruption in the country.
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In a public post, Geza claimed the payment was made "this morning at ED’s private Borrowdale offices" and that Mliswa was holding a press conference as part of a campaign to target the Vice President. "This is Urgent. @TembaMliswa was given money this morning by Emmerson at ED’s private Borrowdale offices to smear campaign VP Chiwenga," Geza stated.
In his subsequent public response, Mliswa did not directly address the allegation of being paid, but instead framed his actions as a principled stand. He argued that politics should be about "ideas, visions etc" and not about "cowering every opposition with threats of death." Mliswa further characterized the current anti-corruption efforts as a "public spectacle towards a very sinister agenda," suggesting that the campaign is politically motivated.
Mliswa’s comments broadened the scope of the controversy, implying that corruption is a widespread issue that should not be "hijacked for a few political points." He questioned the selective targeting of individuals, stating, "We all know how ZANU PF as a party is literally bankrolled by Kuda; funding the entire payroll for it's HQ, buying cars for everyone from the top to the bottom. Why should any one of the leaders then besmirch others when all of them have been benefitting?"
He advocated for a more diplomatic approach to addressing such issues, drawing on a cultural analogy. "Ini saSabhuku I meet villagers with problems& offer them advise. When the issue persists we then bring it to the public forum, kuDare," he said, suggesting that a public, "antagonistic approach" only serves to create "rifts and weakens the party." Mliswa concluded by asserting that a legitimate fight against corruption "shouldn't be selective or limited," citing his own ongoing court battle over private property as an example of what he considers to be corruption.
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