By Wezhira Munya
Senator Jameson Timba, a prominent figure in Zimbabwe body politic and loyal supporter of President Nelson Chamisa, has publicly distanced himself from a fake Twitter account that has been circulating on social media. The account in question, which surfaced yesterday, praises the Zanu-PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, for his supposed donation of $800 to an unidentified elderly man who had performed a dance at the memorial service of Mnangagwa’s grandson, Yasha Mafidi. The memorial took place at Kushanduka Farm in Bikita. It is worth noting that Yasha tragically passed away in October 2022 due to respiratory complications. He was the son of Sean Mnangagwa, who serves in the Zimbabwe National Army.
The fraudulent message reads as follows: “We might not agree on political matters, but when it comes to social issues, ED is very ‘socially’ good. I believe that individuals in positions of authority must also be approachable and sociable. This is a good campaigning strategy that we, as members of the Opposition, should adopt if we are serious about politics.”
In response to this fabricated message, Senator Timba emphatically stated in a conversation with Wezhira Munya of Change Radio, said, “This Twitter account is a complete fabrication and was created by Varakashi and their team. I have no association with this account whatsoever.”
He went on to acknowledge the existance and denounce the two ghost twitter accounts which are being used by suspected state operatives to praise Zanu-PF and Emerson Mnangagwa. He wrote, “They are two parody imposter accounts in my name praising at Ed and Zanupf. Please ignore these desperate charlatans or call them out. They would love to be me but can never”
Furthermore, regarding Mr. Mnangagwa’s gesture of giving the elderly man $800 in United States dollars instead of the local currency (ZiG money), Senator Timba remarked, “If the so-called president of a country, Emmerson Mnangagwa, lacks confidence in his own nation’s currency, why should he expect the citizens to have confidence in it? The social contract has been broken and needs to be reestablished. Only a government that emerges through the free will of the people can effectively address our current economic challenges.”
Various social media users, including Honorable Fadzai Mahere, a vocal supporter of President Chamisa and a prominent critic of Zanu-PF, as well as a leading human rights lawyer, have taken to her Twitter account to question the wisdom of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision not to give the Zanu-PF supporter ZiG money. Mahere wrote, “Why didn’t he give him ZiG?”
Furthermore, Saviour Kasukuwere, a former close associate of the late President Robert Mugabe who is currently residing in South Africa following Mugabe’s ouster, sarcastically commented on Mnangagwa’s donation by tweeting, “ZiG hapana,” which translates to “there is no ZiG” in English.
It is evident that, the donation made by the infamous Zanu PF leader, has caused significant controversy and debate among Zimbabweans, with both supporters and critics voicing their opinions on why Mnangagwa did not give this old man ZiG money if it is real money and he believes in it. Failure to give the dancer ZiG money has been interpreted by majority of Zimbabweans as Mnangagwa’s lack of confidence in ZiG money.
