HARARE — Zimbabwe’s former Minister of Tourism and Foreign Affairs, Dr Walter Mzembi, once a respected voice in international diplomacy, has been detained in Harare since June 14, 2025, without formal charges or a confirmed trial date — a situation that has ignited debate about Zimbabwe’s justice system, political rivalries, and the murky intersection of domestic power and global diplomacy.
Sources close to Mzembi’s family claim he was arrested under false assurances of safe passage given by President Emmerson Mnangagwa upon his return from Zambia earlier this year. Mzembi, who had been living in exile since the 2017 coup, was detained immediately upon arrival and has remained incarcerated under opaque legal circumstances. His lawyers’ repeated appeals for bail have reportedly been ignored.
A Political Rival Silenced
Once tipped as one of Zimbabwe’s most articulate and internationally connected ministers, Mzembi’s downfall appears rooted in political rivalry. His influence, particularly during his tenure as Tourism Minister under Robert Mugabe, extended beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, where he built alliances across Africa and within the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Mnangagwa’s administration, which rose to power after Mugabe’s ouster in 2017, styled itself as the “Second Republic,” promising reform and accountability. Yet human rights groups argue the government has instead tightened its grip on dissent through arbitrary arrests, media intimidation, and judicial manipulation.
The United States and European Union have both sanctioned Mnangagwa and senior officials — including First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa — over alleged corruption, gold smuggling, and repression of political opposition.
Justice Under Political Control
Mzembi’s detention has cast a harsh light on Zimbabwe’s judicial system, now under the stewardship of Attorney General Virginia Mabiza, appointed by Mnangagwa in November 2023. Critics accuse Mabiza of using her office to stifle political opponents under the guise of legality.
Legal analysts say the Attorney General has repeatedly blocked motions for Mzembi’s release, despite procedural deadlines expiring. While some Zimbabwean tabloids have hinted at a personal relationship between Mabiza and Mnangagwa — claims that remain unverified — her role in consolidating executive power through the justice system is undeniable.
According to diplomatic sources, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema raised Mzembi’s detention privately with Mnangagwa earlier this year, only to be rebuffed. Mnangagwa reportedly described the case as “a private matter,” underscoring how the Zimbabwean justice system has become deeply politicised.
Corruption and Tourism: A National Contradiction
Zimbabwe remains one of Africa’s most corruption-prone nations. Transparency International ranks it near the bottom of its global index, citing nepotism, patronage networks, and misuse of public funds.
Mzembi, in his years as Tourism Minister, had championed a “Brand Zimbabwe” agenda aimed at rebranding the country as a top African destination. Yet the tourism sector has since suffered from scandals and mismanagement, including the 2019 arrest of then-Minister Prisca Mupfumira for allegedly embezzling US$95 million from the national pension fund.
Ironically, while Mzembi languishes in a Zimbabwean cell, the UN Tourism Organisation (formerly UNWTO) has continued to publicly praise the Mnangagwa administration, commending its tourism initiatives and hosting high-profile summits in Victoria Falls.
UN Tourism Politics: The Zurab Connection
Observers believe that Mzembi’s imprisonment may also serve international interests — particularly those of Zurab Pololikashvili, the current UN Tourism Secretary-General and Mzembi’s former rival.
In the hotly contested 2017 UNWTO election, Mzembi was Pololikashvili’s main challenger. The election, marred by allegations of vote-rigging, diplomatic coercion, and opaque procedures, saw Pololikashvili secure victory amid widespread criticism.
Sources familiar with UNWTO internal discussions say Mzembi was privately promised a reform role in the organisation in 2018 in exchange for not exposing election irregularities — a promise never honoured. Now, with Pololikashvili seeking support from African nations to delay confirmation of the next Secretary-General, Mzembi’s silence conveniently removes a potential whistleblower.
Regional Diplomacy and the Cost of Silence
Analysts suggest Mnangagwa and Pololikashvili’s interests have converged. By silencing Mzembi, Mnangagwa removes a credible political critic at home, while Pololikashvili neutralises a diplomatic threat abroad. In exchange, Zimbabwe has benefited from UN Tourism’s favourable public endorsements, providing a veneer of international legitimacy to Mnangagwa’s contested regime.
Regional leaders have been courted to oppose the appointment of Shaikha Al Nowais from the United Arab Emirates — the Secretary-General-elect — potentially paving the way for Pololikashvili to seek an unprecedented third term.
A Fight for Freedom and Integrity
Dr Walter Mzembi’s continued detention is emblematic of a broader crisis of governance and accountability in Zimbabwe — one where the rule of law bends under political will, and international diplomacy is wielded as a tool of mutual protection among elites.
As his next court date — repeatedly postponed — approaches in late November, Mzembi’s fate remains uncertain. What is clear is that his imprisonment has become a litmus test: not just for Zimbabwe’s judicial independence, but for Africa’s diplomatic integrity and the credibility of global institutions like UN Tourism.
For now, one of Africa’s most visionary tourism strategists remains behind bars — his silence echoing through the halls of power from Harare to Madrid.
