Coordinated Political Vandalism in Harare And Zvimba West Against Thomas Mapfumo Expose Hopewell Chin’ono’s Fake News
By A Correspondent | ZimEye | A fresh wave of politically motivated violence has erupted in Zvimba West Constituency, raising new questions about the role of known online influencers and state-aligned agents in misdirecting public attention and shielding the perpetrators. Overnight, two separate acts of vandalism were carried out at the homes of Gloria Padzarondora and Thomas Mapfumo—both senior ZANU-PF officials accused by Emmerson Mnangagwa supporters of aligning with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s faction.
Padzarondora, who serves as Vice Chairlady of Manyame District and campaigned for parliamentary hopeful Mercy Dinha in last year’s general elections, woke up to find all the windows of her house smashed. Witnesses reported that the assailants fled the scene in a white twin-cab vehicle—eerily similar to the modus operandi of recent politically driven attacks across the country.
Just 2km away, Thomas Mapfumo, also a ZANU-PF member in the same district, suffered the same fate—his home’s windows shattered in an almost identical manner. The close timing and similarity of the attacks suggest a coordinated strike, rather than isolated incidents.
This violence bears striking resemblance to other politically charged incidents in Zimbabwe’s recent past, including the August 1, 2018 post-election violence and arson attacks on Blessed Geza’s farm and Gifford Gomwe’s home in early 2025.
Earlier incidents on 28 March were swiftly misreported by controversial journalist and known Mnangagwa-aligned propagandist Hopewell Chin’ono.
Chin’ono, who has frequently presented himself as a reformed anti-corruption campaigner, has once again been caught amplifying misleading narratives. In a now-debunked social media post (see attached), Chin’ono falsely claimed that properties belonging to Mnangagwa allies—Kuda Tagwirei, John Mangudya, Tinoda Machakaire, and Wicknell Chivayo—were “firebombed” by unknown assailants. He included a dramatic image of a burning car and made mention of missing soldiers and AK-47s, triggering panic and sensational headlines. The post was later branded “fake news” with photographic evidence discrediting his claims.
Critics argue that Chin’ono’s post was a diversionary tactic—a calculated online smokescreen to shift national focus from intra-party violence occurring within ZANU-PF, particularly against perceived Chiwenga loyalists like Padzarondora and Mapfumo. This fits a disturbing pattern where Chin’ono’s platforms are used to launder state propaganda and frame opposition or internal dissenters as violent saboteurs.
“Hopewell is not just spreading fake news. He’s operating like an online assassin,” said a Zvimba resident who asked not to be named. “He redirects public outrage while the real victims—often fellow ZANU-PF members—are silenced and sidelined.”
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has yet to issue a formal statement on the Zvimba West attacks. Meanwhile, residents in the area say fear is spreading and demand urgent action and transparency from authorities.
As Zimbabwe inches closer to 31 March 2025 demo, the recurrence of factional violence and digital manipulation is a grim reminder of the country’s democratic fragility. What is equally alarming is the role of high-profile media personalities in obscuring rather than revealing the truth.
Hopewell Chin’ono, who once promised a break from partisan media warfare, now appears to have fully returned to the shadows he once claimed to expose.-ZimEye