Harare – In a dramatic turn of events, the home of Daily News editor Guthrie Munyuki was raided at dawn on Friday by armed men claiming to be law and order police.
The raid, which took place just days after a military helicopter carrying President Emmerson Mnangagwa crashed, appears to be linked to an error in an advert published by the newspaper’s sister publication, The Financial Gazette.
The Financial Gazette had published an advert on Thursday placed by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) congratulating President Mnangagwa on his 82nd birthday. However, the advert concluded with the line “May his soul rest in eternal peace,” leading to widespread confusion and speculation about the President’s well-being.
Munyuki was not at home at the time of the raid, but the armed men seized the phones of his wife and children, examining their communications. His brother, who lives in the same Westgate neighbourhood, was also woken up by the armed men, who demanded to know Munyuki’s whereabouts.
Munyuki’s wife reported being trailed by some of the men as she left the house for her morning run, while others guarded the house.
The Daily News swiftly published an apology, blaming the error on “lapses in the production process”.
“We apologise profusely to President Mnangagwa, his family, his office, the government and the ZDF for the anguish and inconvenience that this inadvertent mistake caused,” the paper said.
This incident highlights the precarious nature of journalism in Zimbabwe, where even minor errors can have serious consequences. The raid on Munyuki’s home underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding President Mnangagwa and the government’s intolerance of any perceived criticism or disrespect.
The timing of the incident is particularly noteworthy, coming just days after the military helicopter crash that was meant to ferry President Mnangagwa. The crash, which occurred while the President was schedulled to travel from Masvingo to Harare, has fuelled speculation about a possible power struggle within the ruling Zanu PF party.
Sources close to the President have expressed concern about the recent incidents, citing a growing sense of unease within the party.
“Was it a genuine crash caused by a technical failure, or it was foul play? Was it an accident or it was by design? Alternatively, was it a technical or political issue, or both? The question is: what happened?” an official close to Mnangagwa confided to The NewsHawks.
The official’s anxieties are not unfounded. In 2021, a similar incident occurred when the President’s helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing due to technical failures. This incident prompted a security overhaul. These incidents, coupled with the 2018 Bulawayo grenade attack at a Zanu PF rally, have fueled speculation about a pattern of targeted attacks against the President.
“Prior to that, in 2018, there was the Bulawayo grenade attack at the White City rally. Frankly, what the hell is going on here? Are these isolated incidents, or there is now a pattern? When you put these things together, factoring some incidents we can’t tell you as journalists, it really becomes worrying. We need to get to the bottom of this issue and act urgently and decisively,” the official said.
