Harare – Outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza has released a new video reiterating his call for an “uprising” to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign by March 31st. The move has prompted a heightened security response from the government, signaling rising tensions within Zanu-PF and the country at large.
Geza, who is wanted on sedition charges, appeared in the YouTube video from an undisclosed location, clad in military fatigues. “We want an uprising from Plumtree to Mutare, from Zambezi to Limpopo, everyone should flood the streets, Mnangagwa must go,” Geza declared, intensifying his challenge to the current administration.
Expelled from Zanu-PF two weeks ago, Geza claims to represent a significant faction of veterans from Zimbabwe’s 1970s independence war who are disillusioned with the nation’s trajectory under Mnangagwa’s leadership.
While it remains to be seen whether his calls for mass action will gain traction, Mnangagwa’s government is taking no chances. A heavy security presence has been activated across the country, with leave and time off temporarily cancelled for police officers and an increase in roadblocks nationwide.
Geza’s call for an uprising has exacerbated existing tensions within Zanu-PF, particularly as it coincides with a push by Mnangagwa’s supporters to amend the constitution and extend his second and final term by two years, from 2028 to 2030.
Some Mnangagwa loyalists suspect that Geza might be a “stalking horse” for Vice President and retired General Constantino Chiwenga, the man who orchestrated the ousting of longtime leader Robert Mugabe in 2017 through a military coup that paved the way for Mnangagwa’s ascent to power.
Chiwenga has remained silent on the Geza issue, at least publicly, and the extent of his influence within the military – which remains a powerful force in Zanu-PF – remains unclear.
Adding to the intrigue, Mnangagwa on Tuesday removed army commander Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, an ally of Chiwenga, in a move that analysts suggest was aimed at consolidating his power and preventing any potential coup attempts.
Geza has also extended an invitation to opposition leaders to join his call for action, but questions persist regarding his own democratic credentials.
In Wednesday’s video appearance, the former Zanu-PF central committee member named individuals he described as “criminals around Mnangagwa” and a second group of “political criminals.”
The first list included prominent businessmen Wicknell Chivayo, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Scott Sakupwanya, and Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxilia, who he alleges harbours presidential ambitions.
Geza declared: “We’re people of action, you need to buy data because you will see the action we will take about these criminals. They’re not many in number, on the other hand it’s 16 million of us. Why should we suffer at the hands of a few?”
He continued, “It’s sad what’s happening, you now even hear people saying colonial rule was better. All this is being caused by these political criminals.”
“We’re dealing with Mnangagwa on March 31 but these criminals we’re going after them starting from now,” Geza asserted. “These people think they’re very clever, but they’re going to regret. It’s they who will in the end voluntarily go to Mnangagwa and say ‘please go now, we’re suffering’.”
Geza also expressed remorse on behalf of war veterans for their past support of the Zanu-PF leadership. “As war veterans we’re in the afternoon of our lives… we cannot leave the country in the hands of thieves. The task to remove the thieves and political criminals is underway,” he added.
As March 31st approaches, Zimbabwe finds itself on edge, with the government on high alert and the potential for unrest looming. Whether Geza’s call for an uprising will resonate with the broader population remains to be seen, but the current climate of tension and uncertainty is undeniable.
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