Zimbabweans are watching in horror as President Emmerson Mnangagwa brazenly transforms the government into a private empire ruled by his sons, nephews, wife, and a tightly knit circle of loyalists. What is unfolding is not leadership—it is nepotism in its most dangerous and shameless form.
The appointment of Kudakwashe Mnangagwa as deputy Finance minister and Tongai Mnangagwa as deputy Tourism minister was not just insulting to struggling Zimbabweans—it was a declaration. A declaration that under Mnangagwa’s rule, public service is no longer about competence or merit, but about bloodlines and blind loyalty.
There is no record of either Kudakwashe or Tongai demonstrating exceptional skill or experience in economics or tourism. But they carry the Mnangagwa name, and in today’s Zimbabwe, that seems to be the only qualification that matters. What should be national appointments serving 16 million people have become family favours doled out by a leader who sees no shame in using his office to elevate his inner circle.
Even the late Robert Mugabe—who was no stranger to power excesses—rarely dared to appoint his own family into government positions with such audacity. Toward the end of his rule, yes, his wife Grace Mugabe began to play a controversial role, but Mnangagwa has outdone his mentor. His wife Auxillia has reportedly travelled on state business despite holding no official post. She now acts like a de facto vice-president, meeting foreign leaders and issuing instructions to government officials.
It is clear: Zimbabwe is no longer being governed. It is being inherited.
This descent into dynastic politics signals a total collapse of the principle of meritocracy. The message is loud and clear: you can work hard, study, and serve your country loyally—but if you don’t have the right surname or connections, don’t expect a seat at the table. For millions of educated Zimbabwean youths looking for hope, this is soul-destroying.
Nepotism is not just an embarrassment—it is a threat to national development. When public institutions are packed with inexperienced individuals chosen for loyalty instead of competence, service delivery suffers. Roads remain pothole-ridden, hospitals collapse, corruption grows, and the poor grow poorer.
Worse still, this kind of cronyism creates fertile ground for kleptocracy. We are witnessing an elite few consolidating control of state power, state resources, and national contracts, while ordinary Zimbabweans live on the edge of poverty. The government has become a feeding trough for the politically connected, operating under the toxic slogan: “It’s our time to eat.”
Some defenders of Mnangagwa’s nepotism claim the president’s sons are educated and capable. But even if that were true, it is not enough. No government should allow a sitting president to hire his own children. It creates a dangerous precedent. Dictators around the world—from North Korea to Syria—have used this same excuse to lay the foundations for family dynasties.
If Zimbabwe does not act now, the Mnangagwa dynasty will soon be fully embedded in state institutions, with all roads of power leading back to the family.
The solution? Clear, enforceable anti-nepotism laws must be implemented. Zimbabwe needs legislation similar to that of the United States, which since 1967 has forbidden presidents and public officials from hiring family members. No public office should be treated like a family inheritance.
Zimbabweans must rise above fear, silence, and hopelessness. Nepotism must be called out for what it is: a betrayal of the people. It is time to demand transparency, merit-based appointments, and a public service that reflects the needs and diversity of the nation—not the greed and ambitions of one family.
Mnangagwa’s nepotism is not just a disgrace—it is a ticking time bomb. If left unchecked, it will explode into deeper inequality, poor governance, and a legacy of corruption that will cripple Zimbabwe for generations.
This is not leadership. This is looting with a family label.
And Zimbabwe deserves better.