HARARE – In a move that has raised serious concerns about the weaponisation of law enforcement, Zimbabwean police have detained Roseline Tawengwa, the wife of outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza, in what appears to be a calculated attempt to pressure him into surrendering to authorities. Geza, a vocal critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is currently in South Africa, having fled the country amid escalating political tensions.
The arrest of Tawengwa from her Norton home was confirmed by her lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, who expressed surprise that the police proceeded without her knowledge, despite prior agreements to have her present during any questioning. This marks the third time Tawengwa has been taken in for questioning, with no charges being formally brought against her.
Geza, a firebrand central committee member and former CIO senior officer, has emerged as a leading voice within a faction of war veterans who have openly denounced Mnangagwa’s leadership. Accusing the President of constitutional violations, rampant corruption, incompetence, nepotism, and cronyism, they have called for his immediate resignation.
The fallout has been swift and severe. Last week, police announced their intention to arrest Geza on a raft of charges including undermining Mnangagwa’s authority, vehicle theft, and inciting public violence.
Zanu PF officials, youth league leaders and ministers have fallen over each other to attack Geza and other war veterans, vowing the 2030 campaign was irreversible.
They even contemplated a murder charge against him.
In response to Geza’s outspoken criticism, police have launched a manhunt, pressing four criminal charges against him, including inciting public violence and insulting President Mnangagwa. Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has further inflamed the situation, stating that authorities intend to charge Geza with murder.
Geza, however, maintains that the charges are politically motivated and designed to silence dissent. He has vowed to continue speaking out against what he sees as the mismanagement and corruption plaguing the country.
Prior to Tawengwa’s detention, Mtetwa had written to the Officer in Charge of CID Law and Order at Harare Central Police Station, expressing concern over repeated visits to Geza’s home by police officers. In a letter dated February 19, 2024, Mtetwa detailed how police had visited the home on February 17th and 18th, questioning Tawengwa’s sister and, subsequently, Tawengwa herself.
“We address you at the instance of our above-mentioned client whom we understand you visited at her home on 17th and 18th February 2025. Please note our interest going forward and make all your requests through ourselves,” Mtetwa wrote. “We are instructed that you attended at our client’s premises on the 17th of February 2025 and spoke to our client’s sister who advised that our client was not home. Your team of four details returned to her house on 18th February 2025 and spoke with our client. Various questions were posed to her which she answered.”
Mtetwa further explained that the police inquiries focused on Tawengwa’s relationship with Geza, his whereabouts, when she last saw him, his phone number, and how she generally communicates with him. “Our client believes that she answered your team’s questions to the best of her ability and she was surprised to receive a call today from your DETECTIVE INSPECTOR CHIOTA directing that she report to the Law & Order Section at 10.00hrs today,” Mtetwa stated.
Expressing her client’s unease, Mtetwa added, “When she enquired why she was required at Law & Order Section, she was advised that there are some questions she did not answer to your team’s satisfaction. We are instructed that at no time did you advise our client of the reasons for your enquiries with the result that she does not know whether she is a suspect, a potential witness, what crime you are investigating, against whom, etc. Consequently, she is not comfortable with your request that she attend at Law & Order without any explanation as to the reasons for this interference with her day-to-day liberties.”
Mtetwa demanded clarification from the police, seeking to ascertain whether Tawengwa was considered a suspect, the nature of any ongoing investigation, and whether she was being treated as a potential witness, and if so, against whom and for what offence.
Despite Mtetwa’s inquiries, police proceeded to detain Tawengwa on Thursday, February 20, taking her to Harare Central Police Station for questioning.
According to journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, during her interrogation, Tawengwa was questioned extensively about her husband’s whereabouts and his phone number, before eventually being released.
The situation is further complicated by the intensifying succession battle between Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Geza is believed to be aligned with war veterans loyal to Chiwenga, who have also voiced their discontent with Mnangagwa’s leadership.
Geza’s supporters claim that the charges against him are a direct result of his political affiliations and his outspoken criticism of the President. They accuse Mnangagwa of using the police and the justice system to silence his political opponents.
Geza faces two counts of undermining the authority of or insulting the President under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, as well as a charge of theft under Section 113 of the same law.
