In a country yearning for justice, fairness, and integrity, the continued rise of nepotism under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership has become a glaring symbol of Zimbabwe’s broken political system. The practice of rewarding friends, relatives, and political cronies with powerful government positions is not just an embarrassment—it is a direct assault on democracy and public trust.

Allegations of nepotism have now firmly entangled Mnangagwa’s administration, with reports suggesting a deliberate and sustained effort to place loyalists and family members in strategic posts across the government. This shameful trend is not new, but the audacity with which it is carried out under the so-called “Second Republic” has shocked both citizens and observers alike.

Nevers Mumba, the respected head of the SADC Election Observer Mission, has emerged as a firm critic of the regime’s underhanded tactics. Dismissing ZANU PF’s wild claims that the mission was acting under “sinister influence,” Mumba reminded the world that their report was firmly grounded in Zimbabwe’s own Constitution, the Electoral Act, and SADC guidelines. In other words, Mnangagwa’s critics are not foreign agents—they are simply holding him to the standards Zimbabwe itself claims to uphold.

But those standards are being systematically ignored. Appointments within key ministries, parastatals, and diplomatic posts are increasingly awarded not based on competence or merit, but based on proximity to the Mnangagwa family or loyalty to the party’s inner circle. This blatant cronyism is eroding the integrity of public institutions and turning them into personal fiefdoms.

For Zimbabwe’s youth, the message is soul-crushing: it’s not about hard work, intelligence, or vision—it’s about connections. In a country with skyrocketing unemployment, where thousands of educated and skilled young people struggle to find opportunities, watching unqualified sons, daughters, cousins, and comrades jump into cushy government jobs is more than demoralizing. It’s infuriating.

Nepotism doesn’t just kill morale—it kills progress. It places incompetent people in positions of power, weakens service delivery, and stifles innovation. From botched infrastructure projects to mismanaged public funds, the fingerprints of nepotism are visible in every corner of the national crisis.

SADC’s findings, as defended by Mumba, underscore the broader problem: a government that no longer respects the rule of law or the will of the people. The same regime that steals elections through intimidation and manipulation is also stuffing its ranks with loyalists who will never challenge wrongdoing.

If Mnangagwa truly believed in reform, he would respond to these accusations with immediate action. He would fire unqualified appointees, open the hiring process to public scrutiny, and ensure that positions are awarded based on merit. But instead, his silence and inaction speak volumes.

Civil society, the media, and the international community must continue to expose these abuses. Nepotism thrives in the dark, and only through public outrage and global attention can the pressure build enough to force change.

It’s time for Mnangagwa’s government to choose: protect personal interests and sink deeper into illegitimacy, or clean house and begin restoring credibility. Zimbabweans deserve better. They deserve a government that works for everyone—not just for the few with the right surname or party card.

In the end, this is more than a scandal. It is a test of whether Zimbabwe has the courage to demand real change and break free from the toxic grip of nepotism that has held it back for far too long. The people are watching. The world is watching. And history will remember what Mnangagwa chooses to do next.