WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe explains that Temba Mliswa is leading a delegation to Iran to seek weapons for Mnangagwa’s side in his fight against Chiwenga.
What Mliswa’s Delegation Is Publicly Doing
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Mliswa (former MP and Mnangagwa ally) is leading a private delegation.
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His own posts describe meetings with:
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Iran’s Ministry of Trade
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Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company (ITMCO)
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Iran Tobacco Company
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Firms in mining, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy
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Mliswa publicly said: “Iran needs Zimbabwe’s strategic minerals for its battery and defence industry.”
Weapons Speculation vs. Evidence
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Social media and some commentators speculate the real purpose is advanced weapons, drones, or military backup for Mnangagwa if Chiwenga mounts a challenge.
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Media coverage (e.g., The Zimbabwe Mail) has flagged potential sanctions risks.
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No verified evidence exists of uranium supplies, nuclear cooperation, or direct military deals.
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The publicly stated focus remains commercial: tractors, tobacco value addition, mining equipment, medicines, and solar solutions.
Other People Mentioned
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Ali Naka: Zimbabwean political commentator (X: @ali_naka). Not with Mliswa in Iran. Posted from Moscow on 27 October 2026, confirming attendance at the Third Russia-Africa Summit (28–29 October) and its Economic and Humanitarian Forum, co-chaired by Putin and Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye. The earlier status update matches his own post.
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Farai Mteliso: Former ZANU-PF Bulawayo youth leader (later a Mnangagwa critic), now pursuing academic work (PhD in Management Information Systems, focused on health information systems and disease surveillance; X: @mteliso1). Social media users identified one man in photos of Mliswa’s group in Tehran as Mteliso — based solely on visual identification. No confirmation from Mliswa, Mteliso, or reliable news reports that he is part of the delegation.
