Tinotenda Hove- Fresh debate over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s roots has erupted after a Zambian election candidate sharing a similar surname surfaced online, triggering political reactions and speculation on social media.

On Monday, Zimbabwean opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume posted on Facebook about a candidate contesting in Zambia’s Mwembezhi West constituency.

“This is an election in Zambia. The candidate for Mwembezhi West constituency is Bernard Munangagwa! He comes from Mumbwa village, under Chief Munangagwa!” Ngarivhume wrote.

He added: “If l were Zambian, l would not vote for this one!”

The comments quickly circulated online and reignited long-running claims and speculation surrounding Mnangagwa’s alleged country of origin, with some social media users claiming the Zimbabwean leader has family roots in Zambia.

Observers noted the similarity between the surnames “Munangagwa” and “Mnangagwa”, while others pointed to references made by Ngarivhume about Mumbwa village and Chief Munangagwa in Zambia.

However, no official evidence has been presented linking Bernard Munangagwa to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and there has been no public response from the Zimbabwean government regarding the latest claims.

The issue of Mnangagwa’s origins has periodically surfaced in Zimbabwe’s political discourse, often driven by opponents and critics during heated political debates.

Ngarivhume ended his post with the hashtags: “#YesToCONSTITUTIONALISM!”, “#NoTo2030Nonsense!” and “#NoToCorruption!”

The post has since generated mixed reactions online, with supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF dismissing the remarks as political provocation, while critics said the discussion reflects growing public scrutiny around national leadership and constitutional governance.