War veterans reiterate calls for Mnangagwa's exit

Veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle have intensified their calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down, throwing their support behind former bush war combatant, Blessed Runesu Geza, who is currently wanted by police on a string of criminal charges. Geza, a vocal critic of Mnangagwa and a Zanu-PF Central Committee member, has demanded the President's resignation, citing his failures in leadership.

Geza, who has gone into hiding following the issuance of an arrest warrant for charges including undermining the authority of the President and inciting public violence, has gained the backing of war veterans, who accuse Mnangagwa of exacerbating the country's economic woes and allowing corruption to flourish unchecked.

During a press conference on Friday, Ethan Mathibela, Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), stated that Mnangagwa's leadership has failed to address pressing issues such as rampant corruption and economic collapse, which have left the nation in a dire state.

"The nation at large, which is suffering due to this crisis, has told us they will stand with us war veterans every step of the way. They have made it clear that we must lead the charge in ensuring that the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe steps down immediately, and we are in agreement," Mathibela said.

He continued to outline several reasons for the call, with the failure to tackle corruption being chief among them. Mathibela also accused Mnangagwa of fostering tribalism, which he believes has further divided the country. He stressed that the war veterans, who played a central role in bringing Mnangagwa to power, were now leading the charge in removing him from office.

"We have countless reasons to justify this. Among them, he has failed to tackle corruption, which has severely impacted ordinary citizens and crippled our economy. He has also failed to curb tribalism; he could be the architect of it. These are some of the reasons why people who once respected this government have now reached a decision—Mr. President, you have failed, and therefore, you must step down!" Mathibela stated.

In his remarks, Mathibela made it clear that the war veterans, backed by the public, felt empowered to take action against Mnangagwa, reminding him that it was the people who had elevated him to power, and they were capable of removing him as well.

"We put you in power, and we can remove you. It's very straightforward. I am speaking on behalf of the majority of citizens who have been pressuring us for far too long," Mathibela added.

In light of these statements, war veterans have vowed to launch a series of massive protests aimed at forcing Mnangagwa's resignation. This aligns with the ongoing political unrest in the country, as divisions within the ruling Zanu-PF party grow more apparent. One faction, loyal to Mnangagwa, is pushing for the suspension of the 2028 elections to extend his presidency until 2030. Meanwhile, a rival faction, thought to be aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is advocating for adherence to the constitutional term limits.

The growing rift within Zanu-PF and the mounting pressure from war veterans indicate a volatile political climate ahead, as both factions vie for influence and the future direction of the country remains uncertain.