ZANU PF FIGHTS ITSELF AS MNANGAGWA RULE IS QUESTIONED

Zimbabwe is once again in a very serious crisis. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is now facing what many people are calling the biggest threat to his rule since he took power in 2017. The battle is no longer only between the opposition and the ruling party. The fight is now inside ZANU PF itself, and this has shocked many people in the country.

The problem started after Mnangagwa and his supporters pushed for him to stay in power until 2030. This move has created anger even inside his own party. Some ZANU PF members are saying the president must step down or he will be removed. Already, there have been dismissals of top security officials. Experts say this is Mnangagwa’s way of protecting himself from a coup. This shows how deep the crisis is.

For years, Zimbabweans have been calling for change, but very rarely have ZANU PF members themselves spoken out loudly against their leader. This time things are different. On Monday, demonstrators took to the streets in protests called by a senior ZANU PF figure. For a ruling party that has held power since independence in 1980, this kind of public rebellion is new and dangerous for the president.

Zimbabwe’s economic problems have been going on for decades. The country has suffered from hyperinflation, no jobs, and very little development. People’s savings have been wiped away, and families are struggling every day. Human rights groups say the people are tired and looking for a saviour who can give them hope.

Inside ZANU PF, there are now two major factions. One side is supporting Mnangagwa to continue until 2030, while the other side is pushing for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to take over. Mnangagwa, who is 82, is now in his second and final term according to the constitution. His rule is supposed to end in 2028 when the next elections are due. But last year some of his backers began chanting the “2030 agenda,” claiming he must stay in power for a third term.

In December, the party even adopted a motion to extend his rule to 2030. That motion still needs Senate approval and possibly a national referendum, but the debate has already divided the nation. Many citizens see this as an attempt to destroy the constitution and keep one man in power forever.

One of the strongest voices against Mnangagwa is Blessed “Bombshell” Geza, a liberation war veteran and senior ZANU PF member. Geza has openly called the president corrupt and accused him of forgetting the people. In a video, Geza said Mnangagwa only thinks about his wife and children, who he claims now control power behind the scenes. Geza has said the president will be forced out.

The First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, has also been in the spotlight. Along with her husband and other officials, she was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for involvement in illegal gold and diamond dealings. In 2023, Al Jazeera exposed smuggling networks that showed how Zimbabwe’s leaders were using gangs to sell the country’s gold. These reports have only added fuel to the anger inside and outside the ruling party.

Even though Geza is gaining support, some people remind others that he too has been part of the ZANU PF system for many years. Analysts say his calls are being heard more now because the economy is collapsing and people are desperate. Whether Geza can truly bring change is still a big question. What is clear is that Mnangagwa’s grip on power is weaker than ever before.

Zimbabweans are watching closely. The crisis is not only about who rules, but about whether the country can finally break free from decades of corruption and misrule.