HARARE, Zimbabwe – Militant war veteran Blessed “Bombshell” Geza re-emerged on X on 18 March 2025, accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa of nepotism, corruption, and failure, intensifying a bitter succession battle within Zanu PF as police hunt him for alleged crimes.
Geza, a vocal critic, had gone quiet after attacking Mnangagwa alongside other war veterans. His latest today, showing him in military gear, signal defiance amid a police manhunt launched on 12 February for charges including insulting the president.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police announced the search last month, citing four offenses: vehicle theft, undermining Mnangagwa’s authority, incitement, and public violence. Geza’s remarks have deepened rifts in Zanu PF, already split over Mnangagwa’s rumored bid to extend his term past 2028.
Mnangagwa, 82, denies plans to amend the constitution for a 2030 stay. His second term ends in three years, but supporters chant “2030 he will still be the leader,” clashing with Geza’s backing of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, 68, as a successor.
Geza’s X posts echo his earlier claims. “Mnangagwa has destroyed the country,” he wrote, alleging corruption benefits the president’s family, a charge that resonates with some war veterans feeling sidelined from power.
Journalist Blessed Mhlanga was arrested on 25 February for reporting Geza’s press conference. Charged with inciting violence, his detention has sparked press freedom concerns as factional strife grows.
Analysts warn of instability. Political expert Takura Zhangazha told the BBC that Geza’s outburst may not rally crowds, given public fatigue after the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, but it exposes Zanu PF’s fractures.
War veterans, key in past power shifts, are divided. Geza supports Chiwenga, a former army chief, while others back Mnangagwa’s extended rule, reflecting a struggle over loyalty and resources like government contracts.
Mnangagwa faces mounting pressure. Economic woes—most Zimbabweans afford one meal a day—compound his challenge to hold Zanu PF together as succession tensions simmer.
Police have urged the public to report Geza’s whereabouts. His next move, and Mnangagwa’s response, could shape Zimbabwe’s fragile political future.