Key points:
- ZANU-PF factions clash over succession
- Military reshuffles hint at instability
- Public wary of protests amid repression
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing the most serious political challenge to his leadership since seizing power in a 2017 coup, with growing unrest within his ruling ZANU-PF party, a struggling economy, and mounting public frustration.
As reported by AFP, a faction within the party is opposing attempts to extend Mnangagwa’s rule beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms, which are due to end in 2028. This internal resistance comes as the nation grapples with rampant unemployment and persistent economic hardship.
Adding fuel to the fire, a former ZANU-PF member, Blessed Geza—known publicly as Bombshell—has called for nationwide protests on March 31, in open defiance of the 82-year-old leader. Geza, who appeared on social media dressed in military fatigues, declared that ‘the task of removing Mnangagwa has already begun.’
Police respond as public hesitates
In response to the call for demonstrations, Zimbabwean police said on Thursday they had stepped up their presence across the country and warned that action would be taken against anyone ‘inciting violence.’
But participation remains uncertain. Years of crackdowns have weakened the opposition, and many citizens remain cautious.
‘For security reasons, I won’t join the protests,’ said 24-year-old Takudzwa Dube, a recent university graduate in Bulawayo. She told AFP that the economic struggle to survive left little room for political activism.
Party divisions mirror 2017 coup dynamics
Analysts believe the latest internal crisis is rooted in a fierce succession battle. Geza and his allies, many of whom are veterans of Zimbabwe’s war for independence, are reportedly backing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the retired general who helped orchestrate the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe.
Political analyst Tendai Mbanje, from the African Centre for Governance in Johannesburg, described the situation as ‘a chaotic power succession contestation.”
“The country is highly tense, with increased security presence in major cities. It’s a scenario that could implode,’ Mbanje told AFP, calling Zimbabwe’s current state one of ‘toxic functionalism.’
Opposition leader Linda Masarira echoed the concern, telling AFP that ZANU-PF’s infighting could destabilise the nation. ‘We’re seeing a replay of 2017,’ she warned.
Military shuffles spark speculation
Mnangagwa’s recent demotion of army chief Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe—reassigned to the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture—has been interpreted by analysts as a strategic move to ‘coup-proof’ his presidency.
This is the third key change in Zimbabwe’s security leadership following the 2023 elections, after the earlier removal of the heads of police and intelligence.
Political analyst Eldred Masunungure told AFP the reshuffle was designed to guard against internal threats. ‘It’s about survival. He’s protecting himself from a possible military backlash,’ he said.
Despite the turbulence, Mnangagwa struck a defiant tone at a ZANU-PF meeting this week, dismissing critics as ‘rogue delusional elements.’
‘Let those barking continue barking while I move the country forward,’ he declared.
Public distrust grows
While factions battle for control within the ruling party, many Zimbabweans remain sceptical of their motives.
Human rights advocate Abigale Mupambi told AFP that citizens are wary of being drawn into elite power struggles that fail to address their basic needs. ‘People are being very careful of getting entangled in agendas that don’t concern their daily struggles,’ she said.
Mbanje added that the military’s involvement has historically been about consolidating its own power—not delivering democratic change. ‘It was never about the citizens in 2017, and it won’t be now,’he concluded.
As the March 31 protest date approaches, Zimbabwe’s political future hangs in the balance, with fears of further instability and repression looming.
