Nick Mangwana Responds As Talent Chiwenga Makes Emotional Plea To Visit Wife’s Grave

Nick Mangwana Responds To Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s Plea To Visit Family Graves

Zimbabwean government spokesperson Nick Mangwana has responded to Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s emotional appeal for a one-week grace period to visit the graves of his late wife and parents before facing whatever action authorities might take against him. The preacher says he intends to return to Zimbabwe after spending years abroad and wants time to mourn his relatives before dealing with the consequences of his return.

Mangwana dismissed the suggestion that the government was preventing Chiwenga from visiting the burial sites, insisting that no official permission was required.

Nick Mangwana Responds To Talent Chiwenga’s Grave Visit Plea

In a post published on X on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, Mangwana addressed a video in which Chiwenga made his request.

He wrote:

“He is free to visit those graves as many times a year, or a day as his heart desires. He does not need a government permit for his grief, nor our blessing to stand by a tombstone.”

Mangwana also accused the preacher of seeking public sympathy by portraying the government as an adversary. He said authorities were not concerned about Chiwenga’s personal appeal.

WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN GRAVE VISITOR

We have noted the rather dramatic, tear-stained video of a certain member of the preaching fraternity, who appears to be recording himself in a state of profound emotional distress to beg the Government for permission to visit his family’s graves.

Please allow us to offer the deepest condolences as well as assurances that the Government of Zimbabwe has absolutely zero interest in him, his theatrics, or the graves of his family. We are entirely unbothered. In fact, he is free to visit those graves as many times a year, or a day as his heart desires. He does not need a government permit for his grief, nor our blessing to stand by a tombstone.

We do, of course, understand that there are immense “street creds” to be gained by villainizing the Government, and that playing the victim is a guaranteed way to farm sympathy and clicks for those desperately seeking attention. But surely, zvimwe munonozanyaya. Using your deceased relatives as props for a social media pity party is a new low, even for the pulpit.

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) October 27, 2026

Why Talent Chiwenga Says He Wants One Week

Chiwenga wants to visit his late wife’s grave and the graves of his parents, who he said died the previous week. He also wants to travel to Wedza to inspect a tombstone installed at his father’s grave.

The preacher said he would accept whatever happened after the requested week, adding that he had made peace with the possibility of his request being refused.

Chiwenga has been a vocal government critic for years. In October 2021, Human Rights Watch documented his fears for his safety after he reported surveillance around his home and church. Those allegations were not independent proof of a state assassination plot.

His wife, Rejoice Jerina Chiwenga, died in a road accident on 12 June 2019 near Masvingo. Talent Chiwenga was driving the vehicle when the crash occurred, killing his wife and two other church members. He later alleged that the incident was a deliberate assassination attempt.

The latest exchange centres on his planned return and request for time with his family’s graves. His travel arrangements and the authorities’ response remain important unanswered questions.