Incarcerated former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi is reportedly in critical condition at Parirenyatwa Hospital, with medical staff raising concerns over his deteriorating health and the state’s ability to care for him.
Mzembi is said to be suffering from an enlarged heart, swollen feet, and collapsed in prison prior to his hospitalisation.
The 61-year-old was transferred under armed guard from prison to Parirenyatwa, where doctors say he is receiving limited care due to drug shortages and outdated equipment.
Mzembi was arrested on 14 June 2025 upon returning to Zimbabwe from exile, ending nearly seven years abroad in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia. His return shocked many and ignited debate over whether his legal woes are driven by genuine criminal charges or political vendetta.
He faces long-standing allegations of criminal abuse of office and theft of trust property relating to the misappropriation of assets during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Fan Park initiative while he was Tourism Minister.
Following his arrest, Mzembi was denied bail after a magistrate ruled that his absence since 2018 was intentional, dismissing his legal team’s explanation that he had been receiving cancer treatment abroad.
Mzembi’s condition comes as Zimbabwe’s public healthcare system continues to buckle under chronic underfunding. Medical professionals at Parirenyatwa have warned that they are unable to provide adequate care due to shortages of critical drugs and diagnostic tools a reality now endangering even high-profile detainees.
Mzembi was Robert Mugabe’s last Foreign Minister and a key member of the ousted G40 faction, which opposed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2017 rise to power. His supporters argue his arrest is part of a political purge of Mugabe-era loyalists.
With his health rapidly declining and a pending court appearance in limbo, there are mounting questions about whether Zimbabwe’s justice system is equipped or willing to ensure due process and humane treatment for its political prisoners.
