In a digital world where political voices often resonate loudest online, even seasoned figures like Nelson Chamisa aren’t immune to cyber threats.
The former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader found himself in the middle of an unexpected tech crisis this week after hackers hijacked his popular X (formerly Twitter) account.
A Strange Post Sparks Confusion in the Early Hours
It all started around 3 AM CAT on Tuesday, when followers of Chamisa were baffled by an out-of-the-blue post on his feed.
The message promoted a suspicious-looking cryptocurrency called “God Is In It,” using the abbreviation $GIT.
Instantly, many suspected something was off—it didn’t sound like something Chamisa would post.
The bizarre message didn’t stay up for long. Within two hours, it had vanished.
But the confusion it left behind lingered, especially after Chamisa later confirmed what many feared: his account had been hacked.
Chamisa Sounds the Alarm on WhatsApp
Shortly after the incident, Chamisa turned to his WhatsApp channel to let supporters know what was going on. He didn’t mince words.
He stated clearly that his X account had been “compromised” and that he was already in touch with the platform’s support team to resolve the issue.
Fans and followers expressed concern, not just because of the nature of the post, but because Chamisa’s X account—with over 1.5 million followers—has become a key platform for engaging with the Zimbabwean public.
Account Recovered and Security Boosted
Thankfully, the situation didn’t drag on for too long.
By the next day, Chamisa had successfully regained control of his account and shared the update with his followers.
“Hi family, I have now successfully regained access to my X account that had been compromised,” he posted.
He gave thanks to the X support team and his own office staff for helping sort things out quickly.
He also reassured everyone that his team had put stronger security measures in place to prevent this from happening again.
Who Was Behind It? Still a Mystery
Chamisa didn’t provide details on how the hack actually happened, or who might be responsible.
Still, the incident serves as a reminder of how vulnerable high-profile accounts can be—and how important digital security is, especially in politics.
A Wake-Up Call for Political Figures Online
In Zimbabwe and beyond, politicians are leaning more heavily than ever on social media to share updates, campaign messages, and connect with their audiences.
For someone like Chamisa, whose social presence carries political weight, an account takeover doesn’t just cause embarrassment—it can be weaponized to spread false information or damage reputations.
Time to Talk About Cybersecurity in Politics?
This latest episode raises a bigger question: Should politicians be investing more seriously in cybersecurity?
Chamisa’s scare may just be the tip of the iceberg in a space where fake posts and digital manipulation are becoming more frequent.