Cde Geza releases new video ‘#TheSignal’, says action yatotanga as Wicknell Chiyayo, Kuda Tagwirei and John Mangudya’s cars get bombed (WATCH)

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Cynthia Goba
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Harare – In a dramatic escalation of Zimbabwe’s already fraught political landscape, four vehicles were deliberately set ablaze in the early hours of Friday outside properties linked to prominent business figures associated with President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The targeted individuals include Mutapa Investment Fund CEO John Mangudya, Zanu PF-linked businessmen Wicknell Chivayo and Kudakwashe Tagwirei, as well as DA Motors, a company reportedly connected to Tagwirei.

The incidents, which police have confirmed they are investigating, occurred at locations in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands, and Goromonzi between midnight and 4AM. According to national police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the perpetrators drove the vehicles to the targeted locations, parked, ignited the fires, and then fled in waiting getaway vehicles.

Chivayo’s IMC Communications is based in Avondale, Tagwirei runs his businesses from Argyle Road in Newlands, while Mangudya’s business complex was the target in Goromonzi along Harare-Mutare road. A fuel station owned by DA Motors was the target in Highlands, apparently because of the company’s links to Tagwirei.

The vehicle that was reduced to a shell outside the perimeter wall of Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s offices

The attacks are widely believed to be connected to comments made just days prior by outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza, who has labelled the targeted men as “criminals around the president.” Geza, who is currently wanted by police on treason charges, has been a vocal critic of Mnangagwa’s government and is leading calls for a nationwide “uprising” against his rule on March 31st.

The timing of the arson attacks, coming so soon after Geza’s pronouncements, has raised suspicions that his words may have served as a catalyst for the violence. Some observers suggest that Geza’s condemnation of the targeted individuals may have incited others to take matters into their own hands.

Saved… The fire started at a fuel station owned by DA in Highlands was quickly put out by employees who used fire extinguishers

A senior security official, speaking to The NewsHawks, stated, “They struck after midnight into the early hours of the morning up to 2am. They targeted the business premises owned by prominent businessmen they believe are the main funders of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2030 agenda and its associated campaign.”

The acts of arson, described as a “warning shot” or “fire across the bows,” were perpetrated at business premises owned by prominent businessmen, including Kuda Tagwirei, Wicknell Chivayo, Tino Machakaire and Mutapa Investment Fund chief executive John Mangudya, who is former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor.

Hardly 48 hours after war veterans leader Blessed Geza – whose is fronting Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s military-backed Zanu PF camp locked in deadly political combat with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction, a well-coordinated military-style operation was unleashed on business premises owned by targeted businesspersons by a team of unknown assailants which doused cars with petrol and lit them up as they symbolically firebombed the businesses.

The firebombing of business premises which belong to prominent moguls who support Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the ongoing succession battle within the ruling Zanu party is a further deadly escalation that has brought matters to a head. The battle for power has been dangerously intensifying, with two main ruling party factions vying for control to the levers of state power and resources. The succession struggle is rooted in the party’s recent history, particularly following the ousting of the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017. Mnangagwa has been facing a fierce challenge from within the party led by Chiwenga.

War veterans, led by Blessed Geza on this, are demanding Mnangagwa must go as he has dismally failed, and leads a corrupt and incompetent regime. Chiwenga has been subtly critical of Mnangagwa’s governance by innuendo and his bid to extend his rule, mainly focusing on corruption which he says is now a national security threat. The growing internal rift has set the stage for a dramatic political showdown, with the potential to reshape the party’s future leadership and direction.

Last night’s shock firebombing incident by way of setting cars on fire as a warning, which targeted Kuda Tagwirei, Wicknell Chivayo, Tino Machakaire, and John Mangudya – is a symptom of the deeper power struggle, which has already led to reports of mysterious break-ins and other forms of intimidation.

Chivayo’s in-laws were recent robbed at gunpoint of almost US$75 000 which he had paid as part of the US$125 000 lobola for Lucy Lulu Muteke was stolen in mysterious circumstances by a group of armed assailants. Insiders say the incident was political, a warning to Chivayo, the poster boy of Mnangagwa’s cronyism.

As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the stakes are too high, and Mnangagwa’s future hangs in the balance, while the country is on the brink of turmoil.

In a statement released Friday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) National Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi stated that authorities are investigating incidents involving vehicles that were set ablaze at Tagwirei and Chivayo’s business premises.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has received reports of petrol instigated burning of moving vehicles at business premises in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands, and Goromonzi on 28 March 2025 between 12 midnight and 4am. This was done by suspects who were driving the vehicles. They quickly jumped onto accompanying vehicles and ran away. Police are conducting investigations into the incidents,” Nyathi said.

The curious timing of the attacks, so soon after Geza’s pronouncements, have raised eyebrows. Some observers are suggesting that Geza’s words might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, inciting individuals to take matters into their own hands.

Other commentators believe that there is more to this than meets the eye, and that the bombings could be the result of internal power struggles inside Zanu PF. The ongoing succession battle within the ruling party has created a climate of suspicion and intrigue, with various factions vying for influence and control.

Meanwhile, Cde Blessed Bombshell Geza released another video last night titled “#TheSignal”. In the one-and-half-minute long video, the former State Security Agent and celebrated war veteran who was decorated in full military gear said, “Mhuri yeZimbabwe, ndadzoka ndini wenyu Comrade Blessed Geza, kana kuti Bombshell. Takakutaurirai kuti tirivarume ve action. Action matoiwona yatotanga. And hatisi kudzokera kumashure, right. Imi zvigananda nema political criminals, siyanai nehunhu hwenyu uhu, munopera, right. Siyanai nehunhu hwenyu uhu, right. Iri ndiro rinonzi game redu manje, right, rekudealer nenhunzvatunzva. Saka povho yeZimbabwe mazvionera. Ngatichisanganai muhuwandu hwedu musi wa 31 tichipedzisa basa tiripamwechete, takabatana. Ndatenda”

While he didn’t mention anything about the arson attack, however, it was very clear that by saying ‘tiri varume ve action. Action matoiwona yatotanga’, it is widely believed that he was referring to the bombing of president Mnangagwa’s close allies whom he had named as zvigananda whom they will deal with with immediate effect and before the 31st protest.

In the previous video that Geza released two days earlier, the War veterans leader Blessed Geza who is fronting Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s ruling Zanu PF faction locked in a fierce succession battle with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp named what he called “criminals” around the President in his targeted address, warning action will be taken against them and there is no going back on March 31:

“I am Blessed Geza, Cde Bombshell. I have returned. Our 31 March is going ahead. We are seeing there are people surrounding Emmerson who are making things difficult for others, who are making it hard for farmers to get paid. The problems they are the creators of them. I am now giving you their names. We start with Kudakwashe Tagwirei. He wants to become president, after Auxillia has taken her turn. He is the one taking all the contracts. Many companies. The next person is Wicknell Chivayo. Wicknell has no paper to show which company he operates from, but he’s now calling himself Sir Wicknell Chivayo. He gets tenders and gets paid in advance. ED says he has his own money but the Gwanda project isn’t a secret. The money just disappeared while getting protected by ED.

“Then there is Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya who charges 7 percent to share the loot with ED. There is George Guvamatanga. He gets 10% of the deal. He has purchased properties all over the world South Africa, in UK, in Canada, being all your money. There is another calling self Julius Charumbira who is at Newlands. Then there is John Panonetsa Mangudya, former Reserve Bank Governor. He is my young man. There is Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Fianance. There is Obey Chimuka. There is this thief called Tungwarara. This one I hate him with every bit. He is demeaning the people who fought for the country.Can’t you see he has no care for the blood she’d for this country? There is Douglas Kwande, a friend of ED. All these are Zviganandas, taking people’s money. Then there is John Panonetsa Mangudya, former Reserve Bank Governor. He is my young man.”

As Mnangagwa faces mounting pressure from within his own party, the military, and the war veterans, the firebombing incidents represent a dangerous escalation of the political crisis. With the planned protests just days away, the country is on edge, bracing for potential violence and further instability. There are also reports that President Mnangagwa is now contemplating declaring a State of Emergence as the situation quickly deteriorates.


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