Former Norton MP Temba Mliswa has launched a scathing attack on Presidential Envoy and Ambassador-at-Large Uebert Angel, calling for his arrest over rape allegations after the preacher defended Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga from public criticism.
In a lengthy post titled “The False Prophet Who Became a Praetorian“, Mliswa accused Angel of using the pulpit to shield Chiwenga from scrutiny while remaining silent about what he described as the Vice-President’s own conduct towards Mnangagwa.
Angel made his comments during a church service at his Hippodrome ministry, condemning what he called “vitriolic attacks” on Chiwenga. He said criticism of political leaders was legitimate but warned that “contempt masquerading as criticism is diabolic. It’s evil.”
Mliswa accuses Angel of double standards
Mliswa challenged Angel’s distinction between criticism and contempt, arguing that it risked becoming a form of censorship.
He also invoked biblical figures who confronted those in power, including Nathan challenging King David, Elijah condemning Ahab and John the Baptist criticising Herod. Mliswa argued that a preacher should not tell citizens to stay silent when they scrutinise political leaders.
The former MP further questioned Angel’s past prophetic statements. In July, Angel spoke of a future successor who was “walking, but dead inside” and said another person was “coming after August”. Mliswa argued that the predictions had not come to pass, saying a prophet whose prophecy fails should not reinterpret the failure as mystery.
Chiwenga and Mnangagwa tensions
Mliswa’s central political argument was that Angel was defending the Vice-President while ignoring what Mliswa described as Chiwenga’s undermining of Mnangagwa.
He said Zimbabwe had one centre of executive power, with the President serving as head of state and government and the Vice-President holding no independent mandate. Mliswa pointed to Chiwenga’s remarks at the Zanu PF annual conference in Chinhoyi on 16 October, arguing that Angel’s call for restraint should apply equally to the Vice-President.
Angel had said that if Mnangagwa continued to consider Chiwenga fit to serve as his deputy, the public should take that as a reason to “hush”. He also urged Zimbabweans to support the country’s leadership and avoid what he called political drama.
Mliswa rejected Angel’s claim to political neutrality, accusing him of factionalism and suggesting his intervention was intended to protect his own access to power. He called on churches to withdraw from succession politics and return to preaching the Gospel.
Arrest call over rape allegations
Mliswa also called for Angel’s arrest over rape allegations. A report published by The Standard in March said a woman had reported an alleged indecent sexual assault to Borrowdale Police Station. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the report said police had not publicly commented on the case.
Angel’s defence of Chiwenga comes amid renewed speculation over succession politics within Zanu PF. His comments have also drawn attention because of his earlier remarks about a future successor and the political tensions that surfaced publicly at the Chinhoyi conference.
There is no established evidence linking the death of businessman Wicknell Chivayo in a helicopter crash near Marondera on 30 September to factional battles within the ruling party. Chivayo died alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, and three other people.