'Mnangagwa is a failure,' say war veterans

A group of veterans from Zimbabwe's 1970s liberation war, led by Blessed Runesu Geza, has called for the immediate resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of betraying the founding principles of Zimbabwe's independence.

Geza, widely known as "Bombshell" in Zanu-PF circles for his fiery rhetoric, addressed a press conference in Harare where he voiced his outrage over Mnangagwa's leadership. He claimed that the president had failed to uphold the values of freedom, economic empowerment, and justice that the freedom fighters had fought for during the liberation struggle.

"Today, I am accompanied by fellow patriots—commanders from both ZIPRA and ZANLA, who fought for the liberation of this country from brutal colonial rule," said Geza. "These fighters, who fought with the hope of bringing economic freedom to Zimbabweans, now see their dreams as unattainable 44 years after independence. The majority of Zimbabweans remain poor and unemployed, while a few black leaders have taken on the same characteristics as the colonial oppressors we fought."

Geza, a former Member of Parliament for Sanyati, stressed that the press briefing aimed to address long-neglected imbalances in the country and to deliver a message to President Mnangagwa, who, he pointed out, rose to power in 2017 with the support of war veterans and the Zimbabwean public through ‘Operation Restore Legacy.'

He accused Mnangagwa of being complicit in widespread corruption, nepotism, and cronyism since taking office, stating that the president had failed to address the systemic issues that were supposed to be resolved after the 2017 coup.

"Mnangagwa has shown that he learned nothing and has forgotten everything. Instead of addressing the mistakes of Robert Mugabe, he made them worse," Geza said. "He sidelined war veterans who stood for social justice and replaced them with crooks. His Cabinet is filled with deceitful ministers chosen for their ties to his family rather than their competence."

Geza also alleged that Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Owen ‘Mudha' Ncube, had been involved in a covert operation to eliminate military generals who had died mysteriously in recent months. He criticized Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, for collaborating with opposition figures to manipulate the political landscape to prolong Mnangagwa's stay in office.

"Mnangagwa is trying to turn Zimbabwe into his personal fiefdom by appointing his children and relatives to key positions," Geza said. "This mischief will lead this country into chaos, and we will not stand by silently."

The former freedom fighters also condemned the dire conditions faced by the country's uniformed forces, university lecturers, and civil servants under Mnangagwa's administration, asserting that Zimbabwe had deviated from the path envisioned by those who fought for its liberation.

"This is not the Zimbabwe we fought for," Geza said.

He demanded that Mnangagwa step down immediately, warning that if the president did not heed their call, Zimbabweans would have no choice but to take action. Geza also referenced the 2013 referendum, where the majority of citizens rejected the removal of presidential term limits, accusing Mnangagwa of attempting to circumvent the Constitution with his "illegal and treacherous 2030 agenda."

"It is clear that Mnangagwa is unfit to lead this country. His time is up, and we urge him to leave peacefully," Geza concluded. "If he refuses, the people of Zimbabwe will deal with him in accordance with the Constitution."

As tensions rise, the calls for Mnangagwa's resignation are gaining traction, with many Zimbabweans questioning his leadership and the future of the country under his rule.