STAFF REPORTER
A well-orchestrated plot to dislodge Mrehwa North MP and Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has been laid bare, with sources revealing that deep-pocketed interests are flooding the constituency with money in a desperate bid to unseat a popular and performing legislator.
At the centre of the unfolding drama is a well known Apostolic leader, whose son has reportedly been dispatched into the constituency, openly campaigning and dispensing money in a bid to curry favour.
Senior party insiders and community leaders said the moves were driven by sheer political opportunism, rooted not in service to the people but in raw ambition and personal vendettas.
They insisted that the real issue is Garwe’s firm loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his refusal to bow to factional pressure.
Residents say they know their MP, they have seen his work, and they are not prepared to be treated as commodities to be bought by ambitious outsiders with bulging wallets and empty promises.
“What hurts people here is the arrogance,” said an elderly villager at a borehole recently drilled under Garwe’s watch. “They think because they have money, they can come and tell us who to support. We are not fools. We live with the results of leadership every day.”
Multiple sources within the constituency said the campaign against Garwe has little to do with service and everything to do with politics of envy.
His unwavering support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his growing influence within the party have made him a target for those who would rather destabilise than work.
“Minister Garwe is being fought because he is disciplined and loyal,” said a senior party activist. “He does not play games, he does not jump factions and he does not betray the leadership. That kind of principled politics unsettles those who thrive on chaos.”
“The source of the money is well known,” said one local party official, shaking his head.
“This is not politics from the heart; it is politics from the wallet. They are deliberately causing confusion and undermining party structures. The leadership must step in and put a stop to this farce.”
For many in Mrehwa North, the attacks on Garwe feel personal. They speak of an MP who attends funerals without cameras, listens to grievances without arrogance and follows up on promises long after the speeches have ended.
“We see him here,” said a young mother from the constituency. “When there is a problem with water or roads, he comes. He doesn’t send people with money; he comes himself. That is why we are angry when we hear people bad-mouthing him.”
Community leaders said the decampaigning has become brazen, with some individuals allegedly telling villagers they were sent by “certain rich people” who are uncomfortable with Garwe’s closeness to President Mnangagwa.
“This is nothing but jealousy dressed up as politics,” said a respected headman. “Instead of working for the people, they gossip, they lie and they flash money. That kind of behaviour belongs behind the bus, not at the front of leadership.”
Women and youth leaders echoed the sentiment, warning that monetised politics erodes trust and insults voters.
“We refuse to be divided by envelopes,” said a district women’s leader. “Garwe has delivered. Let others show their record instead of fighting a man who has the support of his people.”
As pressure mounts on party authorities to act, insiders insist that Garwe’s position remains solid.
“The people of Mrehwa North are firmly behind their MP,” said a provincial official.
“No amount of money will erase genuine service. Those plotting in the shadows will be exposed for what they are—opportunists trying, and failing, to derail a proven leader.”
In Mrehwa North, the message from the ground is unmistakable: leadership is earned through work, not bought with cash, and Daniel Garwe’s bond with his constituents is not for sale.
