Wicknell Chivayo fights for President Mnangagwa, breathes fire at Cde Bombshell Blessed Geza and 31 March protesters

Harare – Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has launched a scathing attack on planned protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, branding them as “terrorism” and accusing expelled Zanu-PF member Blessed Geza of inciting violence from exile. Chivayo’s outburst has also laid bare the simmering factional tensions within the ruling party, with President Mnangagwa himself issuing a stern warning to party members backing Geza.

Chivayo, who has been a target of Geza’s threats and accusations of benefiting from government corruption, took to social media to voice his strong condemnation of the planned demonstrations.

“Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation, known for its educated and responsible citizens, most of whom carry Christian values and are law-abiding,” Chivayo stated. “The reckless call for an illegal uprising and incitement to violence is totally unZimbabwean and must be rejected by every peace-loving citizen.”

He singled out Geza, a former Zanu-PF central committee member, for particular criticism. “At the centre of this chaos is an individual who no longer deserves the respected title of ‘Cde’ but a chap called Blessed Geza, a useless, failed politician and fugitive from justice, whose only remaining strategy is to provoke instability from his self-imposed exile,” Chivayo declared.

“Expelled from Zanu PF for his dishonourable conduct, Geza has become a political nonentity, desperately trying to stay relevant by leading a criminal cartel of fugitives and bitter opposition remnants,” he added, further denouncing Geza’s motives and influence.

Chivayo himself has been embroiled in controversy, having been accused of directly benefiting from government contracts through corrupt means. Last year, he faced scrutiny after it emerged that a company he fronted was awarded a US$100 million tender by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to supply materials for the 2023 general elections. He was also included on a list of individuals, including Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who were warned by Geza. In a suspicious turn of events, cars were torched on Thursday night at the premises of both Chivayo and Tagwirei.

Chivayo equated the planned March 31 protests to acts of terrorism against the government.

“To shift from legal and peaceful demonstrations and start burning vehicles, destroying property belonging to innocent individuals, and calling for the violent removal of a government is illegal, treasonous, and easily qualifies as terrorism,” he asserted.

“No serious, patriotic Zimbabwean should entertain this. I urge all citizens to ignore the empty call to protest tomorrow or on any other day called for by anarchists such as Geza. Let us all continue normally with our lives tomorrow and beyond,” Chivayo urged, calling on citizens to reject the call for protests and maintain normalcy.

The call to protest against Mnangagwa has exposed the factional battles simmering within the ruling Zanu-PF party. At Thursday’s Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting, Mnangagwa addressed the issue directly, issuing a stern warning to party members who are allegedly backing Geza. This public rebuke underscores the depth of the divisions within the party and the potential threat posed by Geza’s actions.

Chivayo further stated that those harbouring leadership ambitions should bide their time and wait for Mnangagwa to step down at the end of his term in 2028.

“President Mnangagwa still has three full years remaining in his term, and he has publicly pledged to step down at the end of it—as a true constitutionalist. If anyone has ambitions, they must respect party processes and wait for the next congress,” he said.

“When that time comes, I personally will support whoever has been democratically elected, with every prayer and every cent I have saved, to ensure we keep Zanu PF as the ruling party forever and ever,” Chivayo pledged, vowing to support the democratically elected leader at the next congress.