In today’s political world, a hacked social media account can cause more damage than a public scandal.
That’s exactly what happened to Zimbabwe’s former opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, who found himself in digital trouble after cybercriminals hijacked his X (formerly Twitter) account earlier this week.
A Strange Crypto Post Raises Eyebrows at 3AM
The alarm bells started ringing early Tuesday morning when Chamisa’s followers noticed something strange on his feed.
Just after 3AM Central Africa Time, a bizarre post appeared promoting a cryptocurrency called “God Is In It” — or simply $GIT.
The sudden plug for the unknown coin looked suspicious from the start and bore all the hallmarks of a classic scam.
Within two hours, the post was taken down. But by then, questions were already flying.
Chamisa Confirms the Hack and Warns Followers
Not long after the post disappeared, Chamisa used his WhatsApp channel to speak out.
He let his supporters know that he was not behind the crypto promo and confirmed that his X account had been “compromised.”
He also said he was working closely with the platform’s support team to get control back.
The incident sent a wave of confusion through his base, especially given Chamisa’s reputation as a careful communicator.
Back in Control and Offering Reassurance
By Wednesday, Chamisa had good news. He posted a message on X letting his supporters know the account was back under his control.
“Hi family, I have now successfully regained access to my X account that had been compromised,” he wrote, thanking both the X support team and his office staff.
“All necessary measures have now been taken to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Sincere apologies for any confusion. Thank you for your support. God bless you.”
He didn’t go into details about how the hack happened or who might be behind it, but his tone made it clear—he’s tightening digital security from here on out.
High Stakes for Politicians in the Digital Arena
This cyberattack highlights a growing issue: politicians are increasingly vulnerable to online threats.
In Zimbabwe and beyond, platforms like X are no longer just for tweets—they’re vital communication tools with major influence.
Chamisa, with over 1.5 million followers, uses his account to share messages, mobilize support, and comment on national issues.
That kind of reach makes his page a prime target for scammers, hackers, and disinformation campaigns.
A Wake-Up Call on Digital Safety?
Chamisa’s experience serves as a reminder to public figures—and anyone with a large online following—that cybersecurity needs to be taken seriously.
As political conversations shift more and more into the digital space, the risks grow alongside the benefits.