Former Mugabe Minister Ignatius Chombo Dies: Cause of Death Revealed
Former Zanu PF heavyweight and longtime Cabinet Minister Ignatius Chombo has died after a battle with prostate cancer.
Ignatius Chombo Dies, Cause of Death Revealed
Sources told Bustop TV that the 71-year-old passed away on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, at a private hospital in Harare.
Chombo held several influential posts during his political career, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister of Local Government. A staunch Zanu PF figure, he served under the late former President Robert Mugabe and was known as one of the most powerful technocrats in government—until it all came crashing down.
From Top Dog to Target of a Purge
In 2017, when the military rolled tanks into Harare to force Mugabe out, Chombo was among the high-profile targets. Accused of being part of a criminal cabal within Mugabe’s cabinet, Chombo was arrested in dramatic fashion by soldiers, held in solitary confinement, and dragged to court in leg irons.
He was hit with a string of corruption charges linked to land deals and abuse of office during his time in government. For years, Chombo faced mounting legal pressure, but the cases slowly disintegrated.
By 2023, he had been cleared of nearly all the charges. On 30 August 2023, the National Prosecuting Authority formally withdrew the last two remaining counts after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission reportedly failed to produce credible evidence.
A Quiet Political Comeback and Final Days
In March 2024, Chombo made a quiet return to politics. He was among a group of formerly expelled members—including Killer Zivhu, Petronella Kagonye, and Robert Nyemudzo—who were readmitted into the ruling Zanu PF party.
His re-entry didn’t spark much fanfare, but for those who knew Zanu PF politics well, it was a nod to the party’s pattern of forgiving loyalists once the heat dies down.
Despite his political rehabilitation, Chombo stayed largely out of the public eye in recent months. News of his illness had been circulating quietly, but his death still came as a surprise to many.
He leaves behind a complicated legacy—one marked by power, scandal, survival, and a final chapter free of legal battles.
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The post Former Mugabe Minister Ignatius Chombo Dies: Cause of Death Revealed appeared first on iHarare News.
