Investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has fiercely denied claims made by Comfort Dondo in a ZimCelebs interview suggesting that he harbours ambitions to run for Zimbabwe’s presidency. Chin’ono, known for his relentless anti-corruption exposés, labeled Dondo a “ZANUPF honey trap” sent by the regime to derail young male political activists, warning others not to fall victim to similar tactics.
Chin’ono revealed that Dondo had bombarded him with romantic emails and WhatsApp messages over a two-year period in a calculated effort to get close to him. “I saw her intentions from afar and rebuffed her,” he stated. He further alleges that after her failed attempts, she turned hostile and took to Twitter Spaces, openly aligning herself with the ruling party and defending President Emmerson Mnangagwa with slogans like “Zimbabwe yakauya neropa.”
In the Twitter Space, Dondo accused Chin’ono of sabotaging the country by exposing government corruption, even implying he was profiting from Zimbabwe’s suffering. She further alleged that Chin’ono contacted her to mobilize the diaspora in anticipation of a presidential run — a claim he vehemently denies, branding it as fiction meant to confuse opposition supporters and sow division.
Chin’ono countered by releasing screenshots of Dondo’s messages, which he says prove she was the one pursuing him under false pretenses. He described her behavior as a coordinated smear campaign backed by state actors. “She teamed up with ZimLies to accuse me of abusing women. When that failed, she shifted to pushing the false presidency narrative,” Chin’ono asserted.
The award-winning journalist warned that Dondo’s actions mimic tactics often used by intelligence-linked operatives. “I was lucky not to be trapped,” he said, noting he had been tipped off by ZANUPF insiders who linked Dondo to figures like MP Tafadzwa Mugwadi. “This is not just about me — it’s a cautionary tale for all activists. Watch out for the regime’s online honey traps,” he concluded.
