Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

#WATCH🔵Mike Chimombe’s lawyer Lovemore Madhuku reacts to conviction of his client on fraud Read full story👇https://t.co/xZrEd7DeUz pic.twitter.com/hqFLV5xmhs— The Standard Zim (@thestandardzim) October 22, 2025

WASHINGTON — The White House has dismissed as “completely false” a report by entertainment outlet TMZ claiming that President Donald Trump is considering granting a pardon to jailed music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

The sharp rebuke came after TMZ alleged that Trump was “vacillating” on whether to extend clemency to Diddy, who is currently serving a 50-month federal sentence on prostitution-related charges.

“There is zero truth to the TMZ report,” a White House official told NBC News, adding that the publication failed to seek comment before publishing what they described as “fake news.” The official further emphasised that “the president — not anonymous sources — makes the final decision on pardons and commutations.”

Diddy, 55, was convicted in July on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. He was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, which could have carried a life sentence. He is currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while his legal team pursues an appeal to overturn the verdict.

Federal prosecutors accused the hip-hop mogul of operating a criminal enterprise under the guise of his entertainment ventures, including Bad Boy Entertainment, which was alleged to have been used to facilitate illicit activities. The charges marked a dramatic fall from grace for one of the most influential figures in hip-hop, whose label launched the careers of icons such as The Notorious B.I.G., Mase, and Faith Evans.

Despite the White House’s denial, TMZ has stood by its reporting. “We stand by our story,” said Casey Carver, a spokesperson for the outlet.

Diddy’s empire, which expanded into fashion and spirits through his Sean John clothing line and various liquor brands, once positioned him among the wealthiest and most powerful figures in music and business. His conviction, however, has sparked widespread debate about celebrity accountability and the use of presidential clemency.

Presidential pardons can erase federal convictions entirely, while commutations simply reduce the length of a sentence. With time already served, Diddy could be eligible for release in just under three years — unless his appeal succeeds or the president decides otherwise.

The post White House Slams TMZ Over “False” Report Claiming Trump Plans to Pardon Diddy first appeared on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE — Former Zanu PF provincial chairperson and Norton legislator, Themba Mliswa, has sensationally claimed that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga attempted to use corruption allegations against businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei as a political weapon, viewing him as a threat to his own ambitions.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with United Kingdom-based journalist Violet Gonda on her programme Hot Seat, Mliswa alleged that Chiwenga’s efforts to sideline Tagwirei — a powerful businessman and close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa — backfired spectacularly.

“Chiwenga wanted to weaponise corruption allegations against Tagwirei because he saw him as a political rival,” Mliswa said. “But in the process, he was crushed by a moving train when he tried to stop the tycoon from gaining influence within Zanu PF’s decision-making structures.”

Tagwirei, often described as Mnangagwa’s key financier and one of the most influential figures in Zimbabwe’s business and political circles, has long been a controversial figure, accused by critics of benefiting from opaque government contracts and fuelling state capture. Despite persistent allegations, he has maintained strong ties with the ruling elite and continues to wield significant economic power through his Sakunda Holdings empire.

Mliswa, who himself has been both an insider and outspoken critic within Zanu PF, said the internal rifts within the ruling party reflect deep-seated struggles for influence and succession ahead of the 2028 elections.

“The factional battles are real,” he added. “What we are seeing is a fight for dominance between those around the President and those positioning themselves for the post-Mnangagwa era. Tagwirei’s growing clout within Zanu PF has unsettled many.”

The full interview will air this evening at 6pm on Hot Seat, where Mliswa is expected to provide more explosive insights into Zanu PF’s internal dynamics and the uneasy relationship between politics, business, and power in Zimbabwe.

The post Mnangagwa’s All Accuses Chiwenga of Weaponising Corruption first appeared on The Zimbabwe Mail.

THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has parted ways with national team coach Michael Nees with immediate effect, bringing an abrupt end to a short and turbulent spell in charge of the Warriors.

In a statement released late Wednesday, ZIFA confirmed that its Executive Committee had terminated Nees’ contract, thanking him for his “efforts and contributions to Zimbabwean football.”

“ZIFA remains firmly committed to strengthening its technical development programmes and ensuring continued progress in all areas of the game in line with its reform and restructuring agenda,” the statement read.

Nees’ departure comes after Zimbabwe endured a winless 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, where the Warriors failed to record a single victory in ten matches.

Under his guidance, the team managed just three goals while conceding six in six World Cup qualifiers and finished the campaign rooted near the bottom of Group C. Zimbabwe’s results included defeats to Lesotho, Rwanda, Benin, and South Africa, along with draws against Nigeria, Benin, and Rwanda.

The German coach, who took over in July 2024, had pledged to rebuild and modernise Zimbabwe’s style of play. Instead, the campaign exposed deep seated issues, poor cohesion, tactical confusion, and dwindling morale that left the Warriors without direction or identity.

ZIFA said it will announce interim technical arrangements in due course as part of its ongoing reform agenda.

With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in two months time, the federation faces a race against time to appoint a successor capable of restoring pride and competitiveness to the national team. – Herald

The post ZIFA Fires Coach Michael Nees first appeared on The Zimbabwe Mail.