By Munacho Gwamanda – Zanu PF has declared Chenhamo Chekazhe “Chen” Chimutengwende a national hero following his death last Thursday at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.
Chimutengwende, a former cabinet minister, is remembered for his role in Zimbabwe’s tumultuous 2000 election campaign, where opposition members allege he played a central role in instigating violence against the opposition.
In the heat of the campaign, he was accused of orchestrating a brutal attack on MDC supporters in Mashonaland Central, where Zanu PF activists, armed with machetes and iron bars, disrupted rallies and left several injured.
Opposition politician Elliot Pfebve, who witnessed the attack, claimed that Chimutengwende had paid Zanu PF youths to sow chaos and that the violence was premeditated.
Despite the arrests of several Zanu PF supporters involved in the attack, including Chimutengwende’s brother, the suspects were released on bail, allegedly due to interference from Chimutengwende and other senior party figures, including the late Border Gezi.
This incident marked the beginning of an era where Zanu PF activists faced little to no legal consequences for violence against opposition members.
Chimutengwende’s political career, spanning over three decades, was characterized by his contributions to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and his extensive tenure in various government roles.
However, his legacy remains controversial.
Alongside his role in the liberation struggle, he faced allegations of being involved in suppressing opposition voices and benefitting from government corruption, including his controversial involvement in the 2007 RBZ Farm Mechanisation Scheme, which provided him with a loan of nearly US$100,000 that was never repaid.