Geza calls on Chiwenga to 'oust' Mnangagwa?

Zimbabwe's volatile political landscape was rocked on Friday when militant war veterans leader Blessed "Bombshell" Geza delivered his most explosive address to date, directly calling on Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to intervene in what he termed a "worsening leadership crisis" under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In an unprecedented and daring escalation, Geza invoked the legacy of the November 2017 military-assisted transition that deposed longtime ruler Robert Mugabe and brought Mnangagwa to power. Drawing parallels with current developments, Geza accused Mnangagwa of betraying the post-coup promise of constitutionalism and good governance, claiming the president is now seeking to extend his second and final term beyond the constitutional limit of 2028 to 2030.

"This is not what we fought for," Geza thundered in his speech. "We cannot sit and watch while one man undermines the constitution and hijacks the revolution for personal gain. Vice-President Chiwenga must now act in defence of the people, the constitution, and the legacy of 2017."

The speech sent shockwaves through the ruling establishment, with government sources confirming that state security agencies have opened multiple criminal investigations against Geza. He now faces charges including incitement to public violence, undermining the authority of the president, and theft.

Authorities allege that Geza has used inflammatory language designed to stoke public unrest and has repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of Mnangagwa's leadership, a position that has drawn growing support from disillusioned war veterans and opposition figures alike.

What has alarmed officials most, insiders say, is Geza's explicit appeal to Chiwenga to use his military influence to "rescue" the country—language viewed as dangerously subversive and potentially destabilising.

"Geza has crossed a line," said a senior government official who requested anonymity. "Calling for a sitting vice-president with a military background to intervene amounts to a call for insurrection. The state will respond accordingly."

The friction between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga—long the subject of speculation—has intensified in recent months amid internal Zanu-PF succession debates and reported fallout over strategic appointments. Geza's comments appear to exploit that divide, positioning Chiwenga as a potential saviour figure to the discontented.

President Mnangagwa is currently facing a storm of criticism over leadership failures, economic stagnation, rampant corruption, and authoritarian tendencies. His efforts to push for constitutional amendments that could allow him to extend his term have drawn fierce backlash from civil society and within Zanu-PF ranks.

Analysts warn that the Geza affair could mark a turning point in Zimbabwe's post-Mugabe politics.

"Geza's statement is incendiary, but it speaks to a broader sense of betrayal among those who expected better from Mnangagwa's administration," said political analyst Dr. Shepherd Mpofu. "His call to Chiwenga may be theatrical, but it reflects a deepening crisis of legitimacy within the ruling elite."

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association has yet to officially respond to Geza's remarks, though several provincial leaders are reportedly backing his call for urgent political reforms.

As tensions mount, all eyes will now be on Chiwenga—whether he chooses to maintain loyalty to Mnangagwa or seize the moment to reposition himself in the shifting power matrix. Either way, Geza's bombshell has added a volatile new dimension to Zimbabwe's increasingly unpredictable political theatre.