Apostle Chiwenga Returns to Zimbabwe, Ready to Face Arrest or Death

Story By Staff Reporter

Outspoken preacher and government critic Apostle Talent Farai Chiwenga has announced that he is returning to Zimbabwe after about six years abroad. According to his announcement, he has made peace with the possibility of arrest, persecution or even death.

Why He Is Coming Back

Chiwenga says he is ready to face whatever awaits him. However, he also wants to correct what he sees as a false impression of why he left. His years away, he says, were strictly for medical treatment after severe injuries from two road accidents in 2019 and 2020. In other words, he insists he did not leave to run away from politics.

Flight Details Will Be Made Public

The preacher will travel through Dubai and return alone, without his children. Moreover, he says he will publish his flight itinerary and arrival details in advance. His flight is expected to land at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare.

His Request: One Week of Freedom

Upon arrival, Chiwenga has asked for one week of freedom. During that time, he wants to visit the graves of his wife and his parents. Only after that, he says, should he face any state or political consequences.

Timeline of Events

Several events led to his departure.

• On June 12, 2019, Chiwenga was involved in a fatal crash about 50km north of Masvingo. His vehicle overturned, killing his wife and two church leaders. Afterwards, he blamed “cruel politicians” for an assassination attempt.
• A second head-on collision followed on July 13, 2020, near Norton on the Harare-Bulawayo road. Chiwenga survived, but his church described it as a deliberate attack.
• In October 2021, after street sermons criticising the government, he says he learned of a plot by state security to “neutralise” him. As a result, he left his Harare home and went into hiding. Human Rights Watch reported at the time that people in unmarked vehicles were watching his church and home.
• Later in 2021, he left Zimbabwe to seek safety and emergency medical care abroad. By his account, he suffers chronic injuries and has undergone 10 surgeries.

Political Context

The announcement comes at a tense time in Zimbabwean politics. Debate continues over ZANU-PF succession, and there are reported rifts between Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Apostle Chiwenga, meanwhile, has long been a vocal critic of the government. According to Human Rights Watch, he used street sermons and social media to rebuke authorities over alleged abuses, including arbitrary arrests and abductions of activists. In June 2020, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe publicly described him and others as part of a “subversive bandwagon.” So far, the government has not commented on his announcement.

What Happens Next

Many Zimbabweans will watch his arrival closely. They will want to see whether he publishes his itinerary as promised. Equally important is how authorities respond when he lands.