Staff Reporter

Kuwadzana East Member of Parliament, Charlton Hwende, has described supporters of former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa,as paid trolls following a wave of online attacks directed at him.

The backlash erupted after Hwende posted a birthday message to Chamisa, referring to him as a "brother and friend."

Hwende, who was once one of Chamisa’s closest confidants, shared his birthday wishes for the opposition leader on social media, but the post quickly became a battleground.

Chamisa’s loyalists descended on Hwende’s comments, launching a series of scathing attacks and branding him a “sellout,” “deceiver,” and “fake friend.”

Some critics even likened Hwende to the biblical Esau, who traded his birthright for a bowl of soup, suggesting that the legislator had abandoned Chamisa for political expediency.

Despite the heavy criticism, Hwende remained unfazed and hit back at Chamisa’s supporters, dismissing them as paid trolls who were being used to drive a political agenda on social media.

He defended his long-standing relationship with Chamisa, insisting that their bond was never solely based on politics.

“Zim Twitter is dominated by paid trolls that set the agenda every day. Today I posted a Happy Birthday message to my brother, and the paid trolls got angry. Angry for someone’s birthday, my relationship with president Chamisa has never been about politics since the time I first met him in 1996. Even when I became Secretary General, we hardly discussed politics. He didn’t even know that I was standing as SG until very late into the race. So musangohakira imi vanhu vepa Twitter, especially ma paid trolls,” Hwende wrote in response to the backlash.

Political commentator, Edith Mushore, saidHwende’s remarks further highlight the growing tensions within Zimbabwe’s fractured opposition movement.

“Chamisa’s exit from the CCC has left his supporters divided, with some accusing former allies of betrayal and opportunism. The social media clashes reflect the broader political uncertainty within the opposition ranks as various factions scramble to reposition themselves in the post-Chamisa era,” said Mushore.

Meanwhile, with Chamisa’s next political move still unclear, the divisions within the opposition camp are expected to intensify in the coming months.