Charlton Hwende Applauds Mnangagwa’s Surprise Visit to Parliament

Opposition legislator Charlton Hwende has drawn attention after expressing rare praise for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who made an unexpected appearance during a routine Parliament session on Wednesday, 9 July 2025.

Presidents in Zimbabwe traditionally attend Parliament only for key events, such as the State of the Nation Address or the official opening of sessions. Mnangagwa, however, broke with this norm by showing up during a regular Question and Answer session—his third such appearance outside formal occasions.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Hwende welcomed the President’s presence and called for further progress, suggesting that Mnangagwa should eventually engage directly with MPs during questioning time.

He wrote:

“Mugabe never attended Parliament outside official openings. This is the 3rd time President ED has done so. Next time, he must participate in questioning time and answer our questions 🙏🏾.”

Hwende’s comments sparked debate across social media, with many users criticizing what they saw as misplaced admiration.

Some argued that attending Parliament should be a basic responsibility of any sitting President, not something to be celebrated.

Here’s how some Zimbabweans responded:

• @CNedzevamwe:

• “Why celebrate that? It’s like applauding a father for just being present and doing his job.”

• @munapoano:

• 
  “What matters most is holding him accountable. Push for laws that make it mandatory for the President to take part in Q&A sessions.”

• @GeorgeKasiyand1:

• 
  “Hwende, are you helping the people or just collecting a paycheck? You’re part of the problem.”

• @Pana29737807:

• 
  “This is why Mugabe ran the country into the ground—no hands-on leadership. A president must be actively involved, not watching from the sidelines.”

• @Am_a_Blessing:

• 
  “Instead of comparing with the past, let’s ask: what should a President actually be doing? The bar shouldn’t be that low.”

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