By Munacho Gwamanda- Vice President Kembo Mohadi made a rare public appearance at the National Heroes Acre on Monday for the burial of national hero Tinaye Chigudu, but his frail posture, masked face, and unsteady gait have reignited concerns about his deteriorating health.
Dressed in a dark navy suit and wearing a black face mask, his security detail closely assisted Mohadi, his slow and deliberate movements reflecting physical strain.
His use of a mask—despite COVID-19 restrictions being largely lifted—has fueled speculation about a possible respiratory condition or another undisclosed ailment.
Mohadi’s health has long been a subject of concern, with reports of frequent medical trips abroad and past incidents where he collapsed at public functions.
In 2023, he fainted while delivering a lecture at the University of Zimbabwe, appearing disoriented before requesting water and losing consciousness.
The same year, security agents allegedly forced journalists to delete footage of him collapsing at a Zanu PF campaign rally in Gutu, Masvingo.
His declining health has also led to reduced public engagement.
Last month, while President Emmerson Mnangagwa was on leave, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri was unexpectedly tasked with representing Zimbabwe at John Mahama’s inauguration in Ghana—a duty that should have fallen to Mohadi as acting president.
Government insiders suggested concerns over his ability to handle the physical demands of the trip led to the last-minute change.
Beyond his health struggles, Mohadi’s political career has been marred by scandal.
In 2021, he resigned in disgrace after leaked audio tapes alleged he had engaged in sexual misconduct with multiple women, including married subordinates.
Despite denying the accusations, the controversy forced him out of office—only for him to be quietly reinstated in 2023 as second vice president, alongside Constantino Chiwenga.
Mohadi’s return was widely seen as part of Mnangagwa’s strategy to counterbalance Chiwenga, his powerful deputy and former coup ally.
With Mnangagwa pushing for a controversial third term, tensions between the two men have escalated.
Mohadi’s continued presence in high-profile engagements, including Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 campaign, appears to be an effort to reinforce loyalty within the ruling party’s inner circle.