ZIMBABWE ON THE EDGE: MNANGAGWA FACES HIS BIGGEST THREAT
Zimbabwe is in trouble again. The ruling party, Zanu PF, is fighting from within. President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, are battling for power. This fight is making the country unstable. One man, Blessed Geza, a war veteran and former member of Zanu PF’s central committee, is making things worse for Mnangagwa. Geza wants the President to step down immediately.
Geza is angry because Mnangagwa wants to stay in power longer than the law allows. The President’s second term ends in 2028, but he wants to extend it to 2030. Geza says this is wrong and calls it a dictatorship. Many people believe Mnangagwa is actually planning for a third term, even though he denies it. However, his supporters are pushing for this plan, showing they are acting on his behalf.
Geza is not alone. Many war veterans support him. He has even threatened Mnangagwa, saying he must resign in ten days or face consequences. Later, he denied making the threat, but he continues to challenge the President. He says he will fight until he removes Mnangagwa from power. Geza has promised a “final push,” just like the late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai did against former President Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa and Chiwenga removed Mugabe in 2017, but now they are fighting each other.
Because of his actions, Zanu PF has expelled Geza. But war veterans are still behind him. They say Mnangagwa was not a real fighter during the war for independence. He was trained but lived in Zambia during the struggle. They believe he has betrayed them and the country.
Even with threats from Mnangagwa’s supporters, Geza is not afraid. He says he is fighting for all Zimbabweans, not just for one faction of Zanu PF. However, many people in Zimbabwe are not hopeful. They have seen these political fights before. They remember how Mnangagwa promised change after removing Mugabe but failed. Now, they fear that even if Chiwenga takes over, things may not improve.
Mnangagwa has been in politics for a long time. He was a key figure under Mugabe and helped enforce his harsh rule. He was also linked to the Gukurahundi massacres in the 1980s, where thousands of people from the Midlands and southwest regions were killed. Even after he removed Mugabe, Mnangagwa continued with the same brutal rule. His government still arrests opposition leaders, limits people’s freedoms, and allows corruption.
Geza and the war veterans accuse Mnangagwa’s government of bad leadership, nepotism, and stealing public funds. The international community also sees these problems. In 2020, the United States put sanctions on Mnangagwa and his close allies because of corruption and human rights abuses. Britain has also imposed its own measures against his government.
Right now, Mnangagwa is in serious danger. He has two big problems. First, the people of Zimbabwe are tired of his rule. If the army stops supporting him, he will have no control over the people. Second, his own party members are turning against him. The same people who helped him take power in 2017 are now fighting him. If they succeed, he could be removed in another coup.
The future of Zimbabwe depends on how Mnangagwa handles this crisis. The army, war veterans, and ordinary people will decide what happens next. If the situation gets worse, Zimbabwe could face more political violence. The country is already struggling with economic problems, and this power struggle makes things even harder. Many Zimbabweans just want a better life, but their leaders keep fighting for power instead of fixing the real problems. The coming months will be crucial, and anything could happen.
