Geza, a former member of the Zanu-PF central committee before his expulsion, made the startling claims in a recent YouTube broadcast, where he appeared in military fatigues. He asserted that a motion will soon be moved in Parliament for Mnangagwa’s impeachment, claiming the President is now exhibiting signs of loss of memory.
“We’re impeaching Emmerson Mnangagwa on the grounds that he is no longer mentally fit to lead the country,” Geza declared in the video. “Mnangagwa is suffering from vascular dementia. We got copies of these medical results. His doctors have already told him and his family is aware…”
The former intelligence supremo further alleged that corrupt businessmen, described as allies of the president, are exploiting Mnangagwa’s condition by manipulating him into signing documents to “loot the country.” He even claimed that the president recently failed to recognise energy minister July Moyo, highlighting the severity of the alleged dementia.
These are not new claims, as exiled former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere previously made similar allegations. At the time, Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba retorted, “Where did he get his medical degree?”
Geza’s capacity to organise a rebellion against Mnangagwa from parliament remains highly questionable.
The constitution outlines clear grounds for impeaching a President or his Vice, as stipulated in section 97 (1) (a)-(d). These include: serious misconduct; failure to obey, uphold or defend the Constitution; wilful violation of the Constitution and inability to perform the functions of the office because of physical or mental incapacity.
Zimbabwe’s constitution allows for a three-stage impeachment process. The Senate and the National Assembly must meet in a joint sitting and resolve, by a simple majority of their total membership, that the president should be removed from office on any one or more of four grounds including “inability to perform his duties because of physical or mental incapacity.”
Once a resolution has been passed, Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders must appoint a nine-member committee of senators and members of the National Assembly to investigate the removal of the president.
Although section 97 of the constitution does not say so, the committee would have to give the president a full opportunity to respond to the allegations against him – he has a right to a fair hearing under section 69 of the constitution.
If the committee recommends that the president should be removed from office, the Senate and National Assembly must meet, again in joint session, to deliberate the recommendation, and if in that joint session they resolve by a two-thirds majority of their total membership to adopt the recommendation then the president immediately ceases to hold office.
Many doubt if Geza, until recently a member of the Zanu PF central committee before he was expelled, has enough backing in both houses.
Should Mnangagwa be successfully impeached, section 100 of the Constitution would become applicable. This section stipulates that whenever the President is unable to exercise his functions through any other cause (which can include removal from office), those functions must be assumed and exercised by the first Vice President or second Vice President.
Mnangagwa’s impeachment would open the path for one of his deputies between Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi – depending on who was last to act as president – to assume the presidency for a maximum 90 days before new elections are called.
Poor health has restricted Mohadi’s public appearances and Chiwenga – who has publicly been backed by Geza – would likely benefit from Mnangagwa’s removal.
Chiwenga, who led a coup against former president Robert Mugabe when he was still a general in the military, has not commented on Geza’s push to oust Mnangagwa.
The allegations of Mnangagwa’s failing health and the potential for his impeachment have ignited a flurry of speculation about the future leadership of Zimbabwe. According to the constitution, if the President is removed from office, his duties would be temporarily assumed by either the first or second Vice President. Currently, the Vice Presidents are Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.
However, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding who would ultimately take the helm. Kembo Mohadi’s public appearances have been limited due to reported health issues, potentially paving the way for Constantino Chiwenga to benefit from Mnangagwa’s removal.
Notably, Chiwenga, who previously led the coup against former President Robert Mugabe during his time as a general in the military, has not yet issued any public statement regarding Geza’s efforts to oust Mnangagwa.
The potential for Chiwenga to ascend to the presidency has raised eyebrows, particularly given his history. His silence on the matter has only fueled further speculation about his ambitions and the potential power dynamics within Zanu-PF.
Geza’s claims, while potentially explosive, should be viewed with caution. His capacity to garner enough support within parliament to initiate and successfully carry out an impeachment process remains highly questionable. Furthermore, the veracity of the alleged medical diagnosis of President Mnangagwa has not been independently verified. However, this is not the first time that this issue has been reported. Just two months ago, former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative who also served a cabinet minister in President Robert Mugabe’s government, Savior Kasukuwere, also uttered the same claims in an interview with HSTV journalist Blessed Mhlanga.
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