HARARE – Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has responded with defiance to what she describes as a campaign of political harassment, alleging that her children and those of other ministers are being targeted by cyber-bullies for supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s continued leadership.
Muchinguri-Kashiri, who also serves as the Zanu PF chairperson, expressed her outrage in an exclusive interview with NewsDay, stating that she would not be silenced by social media users who are allegedly attacking her family. Her comments follow a recent appearance at a national prayer day in Mutare, where she declared Mnangagwa as the country’s “best foot forward”.
“Well, you have never seen me responding to trivial things on social media,” she said, explaining her decision to break her silence. “We have important things to do, which include developing our country and we are busy preparing for the annual conference in Mutare, but on this one let me respond.”
The Zanu PF annual conference is scheduled to take place next week.
Muchinguri-Kashiri voiced her disgust at the targeting of her children, asking, “Why involve our children in Zanu PF matters? I think those people are high on drugs.” She continued, “Social media is being used as weapons by our enemies; people are going to social media to fight, but honestly why involve our children?”
She emphasised that the attacks were a deliberate attempt to silence her, stating, “They should attack the mother, not my daughter. They want to silence me, but they will not silence me.” She also expressed confidence in her daughter’s upbringing, saying, “My daughter is well groomed. She knows what is right and wrong.”
The Defence Minister revealed that she had warned her fellow ministers to be vigilant, saying, “I have since told some of my fellow ministers that they should be on guard because people have turned evil out there, targeting our children. [Our children] can be drugged, in fact, we have said they should limit going out.”
Muchinguri-Kashiri dismissed the cyber-bullies as “lazy people”, echoing President Mnangagwa’s sentiments. “President Mnangagwa has said he does not like lazy people and these are people we are seeing on social media,” she said. “They are lazy and high on drugs.”
Her response comes after one of her children was recently accused of running an underground criminal network. This incident appears to have been the tipping point, prompting her to address the issue publicly.
Political analyst Tatenda Chakari defended Muchinguri-Kashiri’s right to complain about the targeting of her children. “Muchinguri-Kashiri is entitled to her political opinions. Her daughter is a private individual, who deserves respect and protection from unfounded allegations,” he said. “Dragging her daughter into the public sphere with unsubstantiated claims is unacceptable and undermines the principles of democracy.”
Chakari further emphasised that political disagreements should focus on policies and ideas, not personal attacks on family members who are not public figures. “Let’s maintain a level of dignity and respect in our discourse and refrain from using personal attacks to score political points,” he added.
Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya echoed Muchinguri-Kashiri’s concerns, highlighting the history of vengeance within Zanu PF. “Muchinguri is a first generation nationalist,” he said. “She knows that Zanu PF survives on vengeance and revenge and this is why they have been able to keep power.”
The Defence Minister’s complaints come against a backdrop of internal conflict and power struggles within Zanu PF, particularly in Manicaland province. While local structures have publicly voiced support for President Mnangagwa and his agenda, reports suggest underlying friction over control and the influence of unofficial party affiliates.
Mid this year, reports emerged of growing divisions within Zanu PF in Manicaland, with some party loyalists expressing frustration that certain individuals were exploiting their connections to advance personal interests. The influence of unofficial groups, such as Boys DzaMudhara, has also been identified as a key element of the political tensions in the province. These groups, while declaring allegiance to Zanu PF, are suspected of operating outside official party channels to influence political outcomes.
In August this year, provincial chairperson Tapiwa Mukodza warned party members to be wary of elements using such networks to disrupt party unity. The issue of contested leadership has also contributed to the tensions. The June 2025 elections for the provincial women’s league chair were marked by internal conflict, with high-ranking politburo members Patrick Chinamasa and Mabel Chinomona reportedly clashing over their preferred candidates.
Following Dorothy Mabika’s victory in the women’s league chair elections, national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha called for unity, stressing that there should be no “parallel programmes” within the party – a clear indication of the underlying friction during the campaign.
These internal divisions within Zanu PF are further complicated by the ongoing debate surrounding President Mnangagwa’s term of office. While his current term constitutionally expires in 2028, some of his loyalists are pushing for an extension to 2030. The President himself has previously stated that he is a constitutionalist and does not intend to extend his term.
Despite these challenges, Muchinguri-Kashiri maintained that Zanu PF members were united in their support of the party leadership. “There is unity in Zanu PF. The leadership is united,” she added. However, the allegations of cyber-bullying and the internal conflicts within the party suggest a more complex and turbulent political landscape.
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