The Zimbabwean government has categorically denied rumors that late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu held a Zimbabwean diplomatic passport. Information Secretary Nick Mangwana described the claims as “false, malicious, and unfounded” in an official statement.
Mangwana emphasized that the Government of Zimbabwe never issued a Zimbabwean passport, diplomatic or otherwise, to Lungu, adding that he was not a Zimbabwean citizen and had no record of applying for or receiving such a document. The government urged individuals making these claims to provide verifiable evidence to support their allegations.
The rumors surfaced after Lungu’s death in South Africa on June 5, where he was receiving medical care. Some speculated that Lungu may have traveled under the alias “Tendai Munyaradzi” and used a Zimbabwean passport to obscure his identity. However, Mangwana insisted that these claims are nothing more than politically motivated fiction.
The controversy has revived concerns about the integrity of travel documents and the cross-border movement of high-profile individuals under aliases. Journalists Hopewell Chin’ono and Maynard Manyowa have highlighted the rampant misuse of diplomatic passports in Zimbabwe, with some individuals using them for personal gain, such as smuggling gold.
Mangwana’s statement aims to maintain diplomatic decorum and dispel any suggestions of secret arrangements involving the late Zambian leader. The Zimbabwean government respects the sovereignty of Zambia and the legacy of the late President Edgar Lungu, calling on all parties to desist from dragging Zimbabwe into internal Zambian matters.
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