Government Dismisses Fake Letter Claiming Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Will Become President

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

The Zimbabwean government has dismissed as fake a viral letter circulating on social media claiming that First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa is set to become the country's next President. The document, dated 14 July 2026, alleges that Printflow (Private) Limited had been instructed to print 1,000 official presidential portraits of Dr Mnangagwa ahead of her purported inauguration.

The letter, purportedly signed by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, claims the Office of the President and Cabinet commissioned the portraits using official government specifications. However, the Government says the document is fabricated and forms part of a misinformation campaign.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana dismissed the letter, saying it was not an official government document. Writing on his verified X account, Mangwana said the letter was generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and was designed to mislead the public.

"There is a clear and misguided effort to thrust the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, into the political spotlight through baseless allegations," Mangwana said.

"In an attempt to lend credibility to this narrative, some are now circulating fabricated documents clearly generated using artificial intelligence (AI) to advance this agenda."

His remarks came after images of the alleged letter were widely shared across multiple social media platforms, prompting speculation over an alleged succession plan.

Mangwana also dismissed suggestions that the First Lady harbours ambitions of becoming Zimbabwe's Head of State. He said although Dr Mnangagwa is a member of ZANU PF, her public work has remained focused on humanitarian programmes, women's empowerment, health initiatives and support for vulnerable communities rather than partisan politics.

"While the First Lady is indeed a member of ZANU PF, she has never pursued a partisan agenda," he said.

"Her initiatives and programmes remain distinctly nationalistic in character, treating all Zimbabweans equally, with particular attention to the less fortunate members of society and other causes close to her heart."

Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has led several national programmes through her Angel of Hope Foundation and has championed initiatives focusing on maternal health, nutrition, women's economic empowerment and cultural preservation.

The viral letter falsely states that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had instructed Printflow to begin producing official presidential portraits for an "incoming President, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa." No evidence has been produced to support the claims contained in the document, and the Office of the President and Cabinet has not issued any communication indicating a change in Zimbabwe's presidency.

The circulation of fabricated documents generated using artificial intelligence has become an increasing challenge globally, with governments and technology experts warning that AI-generated content can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion and undermine trust in public institutions. Authorities have urged the public to verify information through official government communication channels before sharing documents circulating on social media.

Auxillia Mnangagwa