HARARE— Popular Zimbabwean street preacher Talent Chiwenga has provoked national outrage following controversial comments made during a sermon in which he accused the ruling ZANU PF party of deliberately marginalizing Zimbabweans of Ndebele descent since independence in 1980.

In the widely circulated sermon, Chiwenga alleged that the Gukurahundi massacres—carried out by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade in the 1980s—were not just a military crackdown but a calculated act of genocide targeting the Ndebele population to secure ZANU PF’s long-term rule.

“The Gukurahundi genocide was strategic. They wanted to reduce the number of men who could father children, to control the population growth of the Ndebeles,” he said.

His remarks also included inflammatory claims that the Shona majority were “cowards,” stating, “If the Ndebeles outnumbered the Shonas, ZANU PF would not have lasted 10 years in power.”

He added, “It’s the Ndebeles who resisted the white men. The Shonas joined in later.”

The sermon also targeted religious leader Andrew Wutaunashe, whom Chiwenga labelled “a fool,” accusing him of distorting Zimbabwean history.

The comments have triggered fierce debate, with some activists praising Chiwenga for addressing historically sensitive issues, particularly the unresolved trauma of Gukurahundi. However, others condemned the remarks as divisive and dangerous, warning that they could reignite ethnic tensions.

Political analysts have cautioned against the potential fallout from such rhetoric.

“Talent Chiwenga has raised important but highly sensitive issues. We need honest dialogue, not sensationalism that pits Zimbabweans against each other,” said one commentator.

The Gukurahundi atrocities, which left an estimated 20,000 mostly Ndebele civilians dead, remain one of Zimbabwe’s most painful post-independence chapters. While former President Robert Mugabe once described it as “a moment of madness,” meaningful national reconciliation and accountability remain elusive.

Current President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made limited efforts toward healing, including public consultations and exhumations. Critics argue, however, that these measures fall short of genuine justice.

ZANU PF has yet to issue a statement responding to Chiwenga’s claims.

As Zimbabwe continues to wrestle with its complex national identity and historical divisions, the sermon has reignited long-standing questions around ethnicity, justice, and power.