By Political Reporter–President Emmerson Mnangagwa has summoned top military and intelligence officials, ordering them to closely monitor media activities after a shocking editorial blunder by a local newspaper, The Financial Gazette, mistakenly wished him eternal rest in an advertisement marking his 82nd birthday.
The advert, which was placed by the Ministry of Defence and handled by the Zimbabwean Army’s communications department, featured a congratulatory message to Mnangagwa but shockingly ended with the phrase, “MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.” The embarrassing mistake, published on Thursday, immediately sparked a media firestorm, leading to speculation about underlying tensions within the government.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba confirmed the President’s anger and the summoning of the security forces during a closed-door meeting at Mnangagwa’s Munhumutapa offices, which was attended by selected journalists.
“This is no small matter,” Charamba said, referring to the grievous error. “His Excellency was deeply displeased and has directed the military and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to monitor all media operations closely to prevent such mistakes from happening again.”
Charamba elaborated on the President’s reaction, stating that while Mnangagwa made light of the error in private, the seriousness of the incident could not be understated.
“The President initially joked about sending a wreath to State House,” Charamba said, before adding that Mnangagwa had warned that the individuals responsible were lucky not to face detention. “He reminded us that he has powers under the Constitution to detain suspects for seven days without court interference, but fortunately, he decided to rescind the order,” Charamba disclosed, prompting uneasy laughter from those present.
This is not the first time Mnangagwa has had to deal with media-related issues.
Charamba reflected on two earlier incidents, one involving AMH over Zimbabwe-Zambia relations, and another concerning a production error at the Modus Group.
In both instances, Mnangagwa accepted formal apologies from the media houses involved.
However, the nature of this latest blunder has raised alarms within his administration, leading to heightened scrutiny of media organizations.
“The President understands that mistakes happen in the media as they do in government, but this particular incident is different. It has implications beyond just a simple production error,” Charamba stressed, calling for better editorial oversight. “The media must take responsibility and ensure swift correction when mistakes are made. Apologies do not signal weakness; they are vital for maintaining trust with the public and with political leaders.”
Charamba concluded his statement by praising the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) for its efforts to mediate between the government and media institutions. Still, the message was clear: such errors would not be taken lightly in the future.
The tense atmosphere following the meeting suggests that the administration may be ramping up its efforts to control the narrative amid swirling rumours of internal power struggles.
This latest incident has only fueled further speculation about growing cracks within Mnangagwa’s inner circle, particularly regarding his relationship with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who some believe may be gaining influence.