Just weeks after walking free from eight months in remand prison, Madzibaba Veshanduko, born Godfrey Karembera, is again the target of a police manhunt. The Zimbabwe Republic Police issued a fresh public appeal on 22 July 2026, alleging he has ‘undermined police authority’—a vague charge critics say is a familiar tool to silence dissent.
Karembera was acquitted on 3 June by Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, who found no evidence connecting him to incitement charges linked to a planned anti-corruption march. His lawyer, Paida Saurombe of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, confirmed the dismissal. Yet the state’s pursuit continues, with sources linking the timing to growing opposition to President Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his term beyond 2028.
The new warrant comes as the government warns against protests planned for 31 July. Analysts say targeting a religious figure who mobilises apostolic communities for the opposition could backfire, threatening ZANU PF’s traditional rural support. ‘This is about silencing anyone who can rally the grassroots,’ a political commentator told My Zimbabwe News.
Karembera’s history of arrest dates back to 2022, when he was beaten while campaigning for the opposition. Human Rights Watch cited his case in a 2023 report. Now, with his yellow robe symbolising defiance, he remains a potent symbol of resistance—and a target of a state determined to maintain control.
Article and image source: myzimbabwe.co.zw
