The political ground in Zimbabwe has shifted once again. This time, the tremor comes from a bizarre yet telling scandal – the faked return of former ZANU PF kingpin Saviour Kasukuwere, code-named Passenger 34. The political hoax, which momentarily fooled even senior ZANU PF figures, has not only embarrassed the ruling party but also sparked fierce debate about internal betrayal, public manipulation, and the future of democracy in the country.
Kasukuwere, once a feared enforcer of Mugabe’s regime, has been in exile following the 2017 military coup that toppled Robert Mugabe and brought Emmerson Mnangagwa to power. His name, though mostly absent from the current official party ranks, still carries weight. His surprise “return” sent shockwaves through both ruling and opposition circles—until it was revealed that he never actually returned. The whole thing was staged. A political decoy. A lie.
But why fake a return? And what does it mean for the volatile 2023 elections?
The scandal has exposed deep and dangerous cracks within the ZANU PF fortress. The fact that senior party figures were caught off guard suggests internal disarray and disconnection. There are whispers of factional fights, mistrust, and power struggles festering beneath the surface. The Kasukuwere hoax seems to have been a political test—one that ZANU PF failed miserably.
This has handed a golden opportunity to the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC). For months, CCC has positioned itself as a movement for ethical leadership and transparent governance. Now, they can point directly to the Passenger 34 scandal as living proof of the rot inside ZANU PF—evidence of a party so consumed by survival games that it forgets to serve the people.
And it’s not just about optics.
This fake return has serious electoral implications. Zimbabweans are watching. They are frustrated with the lies, the propaganda, the fear. They remember 43 years of broken promises. The Passenger 34 drama reminds voters just how far the ruling party will go to manipulate narratives, silence dissent, and protect its power. It’s no longer about one man’s return. It’s about whether voters can trust the people running this country.
The scandal also risks weakening ZANU PF’s support base. Loyalists who once rallied behind Mnangagwa may now question whether they’re backing a stable ship—or one on the verge of political implosion. The opposition, if strategic, can use this as fuel to turn disillusionment into voter momentum.
Still, nothing is guaranteed. ZANU PF has a long history of controlling the narrative through state media and intimidating dissent. Already, efforts are being made to dismiss the scandal as a “non-issue.” But it’s too late. The story is out, and people are talking. More importantly, people are thinking.
To survive this storm, ZANU PF must do more than issue denials. It must rebuild public trust—something it has long neglected. For CCC, this is the moment to drive home the message: Zimbabwe needs truth, not theatre. Ethics, not ego. Leadership, not lies.
As the 2023 elections draw closer, the Passenger 34 hoax may become the metaphor of the campaign. A fake return, a real scandal, and a symbol of everything wrong with Zimbabwean politics.
The people now face a choice: Do they reward the architects of deception, or do they reclaim their democracy and demand a new direction?
The ballot box will soon give us the answer.