President Mnangagwa faces ‘uprising’ as angry members of his Zanu PF call for 31 March protests, Cde Bombshell Geza ropes in Chamisa

Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing a significant challenge to his authority as internal divisions within the ruling Zanu-PF party spill into the open, with calls for mass protests and his resignation gaining momentum. Defiant war veteran Blessed “Bombshell” Geza, an ousted Zanu-PF member, has issued a bold ultimatum: step down or face the wrath of street protests.

Geza, who is currently on the run, resurfaced dramatically in an online address, clad in military attire, to condemn Mnangagwa’s government for alleged corruption and cronyism. He declared that Zimbabwe should prepare for a nationwide “uprising” on March 31, urging citizens to take to the streets and demand Mnangagwa and his “corrupt cabals” step down.

“On 31 March, we kindly ask everyone to participate in an uprising. Everyone should go on the streets. We want Mnangagwa and his corrupt cabals to step down on 31 March. We appeal to those who can provide transportation to assist,” Geza stated in his address. “Come out in numbers so that these people leave. We don’t want to hear that law enforcement agents descended on the public or hurt them. Be warned. It’s a wave and it’s unstoppable. Let people demonstrate freely. It is a constitutional right. We are doing this for Zimbabweans. So that everyone gets a better life.”

Geza’s re-emergence comes amid growing tensions within Zanu-PF over Mnangagwa’s rumoured bid for a third term, a move that threatens to sideline Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and other potential successors. A faction within the party, reportedly linked to Chiwenga and the military, is pushing for Mnangagwa to resign by the end of the month, further escalating the internal strife.

Adding fuel to the fire, Geza claims to have garnered the support of prominent political figures, including Nelson Chamisa and Job Sikhala, in his plan to protest against Mnangagwa’s government.

“Fellow Zimbabweans. The signal is now close. We will bring it up in a clever way, so that our enemies will never know. It will be in a few days. We know that Mnangagwa wants to declare a state of emergency but that will not work. We will deal with our issues as Zimbabweans,” Geza asserted. “We have engaged all political players like Chamisa, Sikhala, Mwonzora, Komichi and we agreed on a way forward. For your own information all these people like General Chiwenga. So be warned, the signal is coming very soon.”

The infighting within Zanu-PF is reminiscent of the 2017 internal battles that led to the coup which ousted Robert Mugabe from power, highlighting the deep-seated divisions and power struggles within the ruling party.

Mnangagwa, who came to power in 2017 with the backing of the military, including Chiwenga, has repeatedly stated that he will step down when his term ends in 2028. However, Zanu-PF is reportedly advancing plans to amend the Constitution to extend his rule by two years, pushing elections to 2030 and allowing Mnangagwa to potentially influence his successor.

State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke has downplayed the significance of the planned protests, claiming they are fuelled by Zimbabweans abroad and insisting that Mnangagwa remains popular. “…we want to warn you that we are ready and we will be waiting to deal with you,” he said, signalling a tough stance against any demonstrations.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa further inflamed tensions by launching a public attack on Chiwenga, calling him “illiterate” and “an electoral liability.”

The developments come as Police Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba clarified that his office does not have the mandate to permit or ban peaceful demonstrations, stating that the notification to hold a peaceful protest was wrongly directed to his office.

“Having perused the said correspondence and particularly noting that the author(s) intended to ‘notify the Joint Operations Command (JOC)’ of an intended ‘peaceful demonstration countrywide’, I am certain that it has been misdirected to my office,” Mutamba said.

However, in response to the growing unrest, police have issued a stern warning against any illegal demonstrations. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi stated that law enforcement will not tolerate any breach of the peace. “We want to remind the public that any form of protest must be conducted within the confines of the law,” Nyathi told NewsDay.

As Zimbabwe approaches the March 31 protest date, the political climate remains highly charged. Zanu-PF is scheduled to hold its elective congress in 2027 to determine its next leader ahead of the 2028 general election. Chiwenga, with his military backing, remains a key player in the succession politics, and analysts predict that the military will play a decisive role in shaping the party’s future.