In today’s age of digital politics, even a momentary hack can send shockwaves.
That’s exactly what happened to Nelson Chamisa, the former leader of Zimbabwe’s Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), after his X account (formerly Twitter) was hijacked earlier this week by cyber intruders.
With over 1.5 million followers, Chamisa’s account is a major platform for political messaging—and a prime target for digital mischief.
What unfolded on Tuesday morning wasn’t just odd—it was suspicious enough to get people talking.
A Bizarre Crypto Post Triggers Alarm
At around 3 AM CAT, followers of Chamisa’s account were taken aback when a strange promotional post appeared out of nowhere.
It was advertising a cryptocurrency called “God Is In It” or $GIT, and it immediately raised red flags.
The post screamed “scam” to many who saw it. And within two hours, it was gone.
But the damage had already been done—users were confused, and questions were flying.
Chamisa Confirms His Account Was Hacked
Not long after the post disappeared, Chamisa turned to his WhatsApp broadcast channel to address the situation.
He confirmed what many had feared: his X account had been compromised.
In his message, he explained that he was working directly with X’s support team to regain access and stop further unauthorized activity.
At that point, it was unclear who had taken control—or why—but it was evident this wasn’t just a random glitch.
“I’m Back Online,” Says Chamisa
Fast-forward to Wednesday, and Chamisa had some good news.
In a fresh post on his newly restored X account, he told followers:
“Hi family, I have now successfully regained access to my X account that had been compromised.
Thanks to the @X support team and our office support staff.”
He also made it clear that precautionary steps had been taken to boost account security and prevent any repeat incidents.
While he didn’t reveal exactly how the hack happened or who might be responsible, his tone suggested lessons had been learned.
A Bigger Conversation Around Political Cybersecurity
Chamisa’s account hack isn’t just a one-off event—it highlights a growing challenge for public figures in Zimbabwe and beyond.
As more politicians rely on social media for outreach and messaging, their online presence becomes a goldmine for hackers and bad actors.
With high follower counts and influence, accounts like Chamisa’s can easily be used to spread disinformation, scams, or confusion—even if only for a short time.
What Should Politicians Do About It?
This incident begs the question: Should politicians be investing more in cybersecurity?
Is it time they treat their social media platforms with the same level of protection as their physical offices or personal data?
The hack may be over, but the conversation around digital trust and safety is far from finished.