Marondera – Zimbabwe’s media fraternity is reeling from the brutal murder of Watson Flexy Munyaka, a key member of the investigative journalism team Dug Up, just days after the organisation released a bombshell recording of Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa criticising Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Munyaka, 38, was allegedly abducted and thrown from a moving vehicle in Marondera on Monday afternoon, sparking fears of a targeted hit linked to his work.
The team behind Dug Up, an investigative journalism group that has unearthed some high-profile scandals recently, is living in fear after one of its members, Watson Flexy Munyaka was killed in mysterious circumstances.
Maynard Manyowa, with who Munyaka worked with at the Dug Up, revealed that no valuables seem to have been stolen from Munyaka during the murder, leading to the belief that it was a targeted hit.
“Good evening everyone. My brother Watson Flexy Munyaka has indeed passed away. Watson was a brother and a colleague. A dear part of what we have been doing at Dug Up. He was central to what we used to do at Khuluma Afrika too.”
“Watson was murdered and his body was dumped in Marondera this afternoon. According to hospital staff, neither expensive gadgets nor money were removed from his body – which makes us believe he may have been targeted for work with us. It is a terrible and devastating blow.”
Manyowa said Munyaka had been a crucial member of the Dug Up investigative team.
“Watson was one of the many pillars that allowed us to conduct in-depth queries in Zimbabwe. He was our boot on the ground. An experienced researcher who knew how to conduct a thorough investigation. I have lost a brother, a friend, and a rock behind the scenes.”
Manyowa added that the Dug Up team now feared for their lives, given what had happened to their colleague.
“May I add that we know probably as much as you do. The same info you have is what we have. I am far away, and until there is a post-mortem and police release, we can only go by what hospital staff say.”
“We can only hope police provide answers rapidly – and unfortunately, given the nature of Watson’s recent work, we can’t help but be both suspicious and terrified.”
Mutsvangwa harbours ambitions of being Zanu PF leader and sees the retired army general as a stumbling block to the realisation of that dream.
He used an interview with Dug Up to hammer Chiwenga, while also casting doubt on his war credentials. The interview was recorded on February 17, 2025, but was not released until Friday, ZimLive understands.
Chiwenga has requested a meeting with Mnangagwa on Monday to discuss Mutsvangwa’s outburst, ZimLive understands.
The source of Mutsvangwa’s indignation appears to be a push by Chiwenga for Mnangagwa to “anoint” him as his successor – which would close the door on other aspirants.
Mutsvangwa said: “That guy wanted to be anointed to become president, to become a successor to the president. So you want to remove the president but before you do so you want him to appoint, to annoint you. How do you do that? You’re squaring a circle!
“(Robert) Mugabe used to say I will nominate, I will give you my successor but the president (Mnangagwa) is saying no, we must go for elections. That’s normal for a democratic party.”
Zanu PF will hold its elective congress in 2027, a year before Mnangagwa’s second and final term is due to end.
Mutsvangwa is dismissive of Chiwenga’s prospects of winning the mandate from Zanu PF supporters and going on to clinch the presidency in general elections due in 2028.
Chiwenga’s decision to get his then wife Mary Mubaiwa arrested in 2019 for his attempted murder and then blocking her bid to seek medical attention in South Africa had alienated him from female voters, Mutsvangwa opined.
“Can you imagine half of the electorate are women in this country, more than half, and you’ve decapitated the legs and limbs of your former wife through cruelty and you’re refusing her to see her children including one she came with into your marriage,” Mutsvangwa said.
Mnangagwa had wanted to pardon the former model but Chiwenga said “you can’t do that,” Mutsvangwa claims.
“He wreaks of cruelty against all women in the country. He can’t win, he doesn’t want elections and the president has uppended him by saying we’re going to congress, can you go and sell yourself to the electorate, the party electorate, and meanwhile you’ve baggage like that,” he added.
Said Mutsvangwa: “Remember if you want to know if a Shona person never went to school put an L in front of them. Because R comes from the mother and L comes from the teacher. That’s the basic litmus test of an illiterate Shona person. So he never managed to graduate from the mother’s alphabet.
“That you went to the war is not an excuse, some of us went to war but returned to school and went to university. Going to war is no substitute for illiteracy and ignorance.
“You were commanding an army by contrivance, while you’re an illiterate. Commanding an army of boys and girls who joined the war coming from Thekwani, Tsambe, Mukaro and Cyrene. These are the people who fought and went back to school and you wind up as their commander. How do you command such an erudite and educated army while you’re illiterate? You think you can endear yourself to them?”
Meanwhile, Police have launched investigations into a case where a 38-year-old man died after being thrown out of a moving vehicle in Marondera on Monday afternoon.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating the circumstances in which Watson Munyaka aged 38 died in Marondera Central Business District on March 17 at around 2.10 pm after being thrown out of a moving Toyota Fortuner along Fifth Street.
“The victim was taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” he said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information that may assist to shed light on the incident as investigations continue. More details will be released in due course.”
Socialite and Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s nephew, Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi who is an engineer by profession, sent an email to My Zimbabwe News and many other media houses titled “Who Killed the Journalist Who Secretly Recorded Chris Mutsvangwa?”
The email reads: “Watson Munyaka, who secretly recorded prominent ZANU-PF official Chris Mutsvangwa, died in unclear circumstances after being thrown from a moving Toyota Fortuner. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an investigation, but how can they claim to be searching for suspects when the most obvious leads are right in front of them? Munyaka’s death follows a disturbing trend of journalists and whistleblowers facing brutal retaliation for exposing sensitive information. If his recordings of Mutsvangwa contained damaging revelations, his murder may not be a random act of violence but a targeted silencing. Who owned the vehicle he was thrown from? Who was inside? These are the immediate questions ZRP should be asking.
“Yet, history suggests that Zimbabwean authorities have little interest in solving crimes that involve political figures or sensitive state matters. Instead, such cases are either buried under endless “investigations” or dismissed entirely, for example Itai Dzamara. The public has every reason to be skeptical. If the police are genuinely seeking suspects, why not start by questioning those who stood to gain from Munyaka’s death? This killing is not just a tragedy but a test for Zimbabwe’s justice system. If ZRP is serious about finding the perpetrators, they must investigate without fear or favour. Otherwise, this will go down as yet another politically motivated killing swept under the rug another stark reminder that in Zimbabwe, truth can be a death sentence.”
The circumstances surrounding Munyaka’s death are highly suspicious. Maynard Manyowa, Munyaka’s colleague at Dug Up, stated that nothing of value was taken from his body, leading the team to believe he was specifically targeted because of his work.
The email from Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi further fuels speculation, questioning the effectiveness of the police investigation and highlighting a history of unresolved cases involving political figures.
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