WATCH LIVE: Apostle Talent Chiwenga Announces Return To Zimbabwe

October 27, 2026

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Return to Zimbabwe: Announced he is returning after roughly six years abroad, stating he has made peace with possible arrest, persecution, or death.
Reason for Absence: Clarified his time away was strictly for medical treatment following severe injuries from two road accidents (2019 and 2020), not to flee politics.
Travel Details: Will travel via Dubai, return alone (without his children), and publicly publish his flight itinerary and arrival details for Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Request: Asked for one week of freedom upon arrival to visit the graves of his wife and parents before facing any state or political consequences.
Political Context: His announcement comes amid heightened political tensions in Zimbabwe involving ZANU–PF succession dynamics and rifts between his cousin (VP Constantino Chiwenga) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

June 12, 2019: Involved in a fatal car crash 50km north of Masvingo; his vehicle overturned, killing his wife and two church leaders. He blamed “cruel politicians” for an assassination attempt.
July 13, 2020: Survived a second head-on collision near Norton on the Harare-Bulawayo road. His church declared it a deliberate hit.
October 2021: After street sermons rebuking the government, learned of a plot by state security to “neutralize” him. He fled his Harare home and went into deep hiding.
Late 2021: Slipped out of Zimbabwe to seek exile and emergency medical care abroad for chronic injuries from 10 previous surgeries.

Khampepe Commission (TRC Cases Inquiry): Former Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock testified that apartheid-era leaders ordered extrajudicial killings and bombings.
De Kock’s Testimony: Accused post-apartheid prosecutors of failing to pursue the state’s true chain of command. Stated operations were authorized by top political figures, funded via a massive monthly standing advance laundered through false receipts, and included cash bounties (R1,000–R7,000) for executions or arrests.

Bulawayo City Council (BCC): Converting disused municipal properties into vocational training and innovation hubs to help youth acquire skills and start businesses.
Traffic Police Bail: Four traffic police officers (Moses Chisandwa, Nomsom Rwaependi, Anesu Bruc Chikasha, and Conscience Chihata) were granted US$150 bail by the Bulawayo High Court. They must reside at ZRP Mbembesi Police Station, report every Friday, and not interfere with witnesses. (Arrested Oct 14 at a roadblock on the Harare-Bulawayo Highway).

Northern Cape Provincial Legislature: A critical legal battle scheduled for hearing on 10 November 2026 to overturn a law that drastically extended liquor-trading hours in the Northern Cape.

Turnover: Increased by 2.4% to R60.5 billion (up from R59.0 billion).
Trading Profit: Grew by 58.1% to R490 million (up from R310 million).
Trading Profit Margin: Improved to 0.8% (up from 0.5%).
Headline Loss: Reduced by 31.9% to R299 million (improved from R439 million).
Headline Loss per Share (HEPS): Improved by 31.9% to a loss of 40.71 cents (from 59.77 cents).
Basic Loss per Share (EPS): Improved by 45.6% to a loss of 36.77 cents (from 67.53 cents).
Key Drivers: R180 million improvement driven by a R75 million increase in Boxer trading profit and a R105 million reduction in Pick n Pay trading loss.
Pick n Pay Details: Reduced loss supported by 2.4% like-for-like growth in company-owned supermarkets, 7% gross profit margin accretion, and contained expenses.
Boxer Details: 53.1% owned subsidiary delivered 6.3% turnover growth and 3.8% like-for-like volume growth.
Balance Sheet: Strong net cash (excluding leases) of R10.0 billion (R7.7 billion in Pick n Pay; R2.3 billion in Boxer).

South Africa-based hip-hop artiste King 98 (real name Ngonidzashe Dhondo) was Mello’s ex-boyfriend.

Current Projects:
- Ikhwezi Beer Garden (Pelanda): Transformed into a vocational training centre for hotel and catering; plans for solar installation and house-wiring labs.
- Magwegwe Beer Garden: Handed to the Department of Housing and Community Services for conversion into an innovation hub.
Courses Offered: BCC operates 21 centres offering building, carpentry, plumbing, welding, motor mechanics, agriculture, solar installation, mobile repairs, hotel/catering, hairdressing, and art. Students receive council certificates and trade testing.
Partnerships: SNV Zimbabwe assists with solar/house-wiring facilities and a matching-grant arrangement (students raise half, SNV contributes half). World Vision partnered for the Youth Light Industry Centre (Old Pumula).
Challenges: Magwegwe project is still in development (no cost, completion date, or intake announced). Resource constraints limit start-up capital for graduates.
Community Impact: Operates 16 youth and recreation centres for skills training, sports, arts, and peer education.