Prominent Zimbabwean politician and outspoken former MP Temba Mliswa, also known by his nickname “Bhuru,” has built a reputation for being a persistent critic of the country’s top police leadership — a feud that has lasted nearly ten years and continues to unfold.
Mliswa’s confrontations with the heads of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) began during the tenure of former Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri.
In 2016, amidst rising public protests and economic instability, Mliswa accused Chihuri of politicizing the police and turning the force into a tool for suppressing dissent.
He openly called for Chihuri to resign, citing alleged corruption, bias in law enforcement, and the selective targeting of opposition figures while ignoring violence linked to the ruling party.
These tensions escalated during protests against the introduction of bond notes, where Mliswa criticized the police for excessive use of force. He also found himself arrested multiple times under Chihuri’s leadership, deepening the animosity between them.
After Chihuri’s departure, Mliswa turned his focus to his successor, Godwin Matanga. In 2020, he filed formal complaints with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), accusing Matanga of misconduct, including covering up fatal traffic accidents and maintaining questionable associations with businessman Delish Nguwaya, anti-corruption official Thabani Mpofu, and unnamed figures in the judiciary.
He alleged that the Commissioner General’s actions demonstrated negligence and corruption.
However, Mliswa’s criticisms haven’t been confined to police leadership. Over the years, he has taken aim at senior government officials, cabinet ministers, and influential business personalities.
These frequent confrontations have led some to speculate that his aggressive stance may be driven more by personal or business interests than by principle.
A recent legal battle over the Rengwe Conservancy brought Mliswa back into the spotlight. Once again, he blamed senior police officers for what he described as the unlawful enforcement of mining and environmental laws.
Critics argue that such episodes often coincide with disputes that could affect Mliswa’s own commercial interests, raising doubts about the true intent behind his public accusations.
Politically, Mliswa has been known to shift positions. Once expelled from ZANU PF, he re-emerged as an independent legislator and has since expressed a willingness to return to the ruling party.
These changes have fueled public perception that his criticism of police leaders may be part of a broader effort to regain political ground or remain relevant.
In 2025, Mliswa’s focus has now shifted to the current Commissioner General of Police, Stephen Mutamba. In a YouTube video titled “Temba Mliswa accuses Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General Mutamba of corruption,” he leveled new allegations — though without providing substantial evidence. For many, this latest episode reflects a familiar pattern: every police chief who takes office eventually finds themselves in Mliswa’s crosshairs.
He has become adept at using platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and Parliament to air his grievances, often forcing institutional responses — but also drawing criticism for his confrontational style.
Despite the controversy, one thing is clear: Temba Mliswa shows no signs of backing down from his decades-long battles with Zimbabwe’s police leadership.
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