HERE IS WHY MNANGAGWA IS NOW FACING HIS BIGGEST THREAT

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is now facing what many say is the biggest threat to his rule since he took power in 2017. Zimbabwe is heading towards general elections in 2028, but already the battle for succession has started inside ZANU PF. The fight has now moved from secret meetings to the public, and this has shaken the ruling party in a way that we have not seen before.

Mnangagwa and his loyalists are pushing for him to stay in power until 2030. They are calling this the “2030 agenda.” But the Zimbabwean constitution is very clear. A president must only serve two terms. Mnangagwa is now on his second and last term, which ends in 2028. If he stays beyond that, it would mean breaking the constitution. That has led to protests, not only from the opposition, but also from inside his own party. For the first time, ZANU PF members are openly calling for Mnangagwa to step down. This is new, because normally dissent in ZANU PF is crushed before it can grow.

The fight has also seen the dismissal of top security officials. Analysts say Mnangagwa is doing this because he fears being removed through a coup. The army played a big role in putting him in power in 2017, and he knows the same army can also remove him. By firing and reshuffling security leaders, he is trying to protect himself. But this has created even more enemies for him.

The crisis has spilled onto the streets. This week, there were demonstrations against Mnangagwa called by a senior ZANU PF member. To see ruling party members asking people to protest against their own leader shows how deep the split has become. Zimbabweans are angry because they have lived with hunger, poverty, and hyperinflation for more than two decades. Many have lost jobs and savings. Now they are being told to wait even longer while the president fights for more power. People are tired and desperate for change.

One man at the centre of this storm is Blessed “Bombshell” Geza. He is a war veteran and a senior ZANU PF official. Geza once supported Mnangagwa but now says he regrets it. In a video that went viral, Geza said the president forgot the people, embraced corruption, and only focused on his family. He accused Mnangagwa of giving too much power to his wife and children. He called on citizens to rise up and force the president out. Geza’s words carry weight because he comes from inside the system that has controlled Zimbabwe since 1980.

But Geza is not without his own critics. Many say he is part of the same corrupt system and only turned against Mnangagwa because of factional battles. Analysts believe his message is gaining support mainly because Zimbabweans are fed up with the collapsing economy. People are not following him because they trust him, but because he represents an opening to challenge Mnangagwa’s third-term bid.

The first family has also been caught in scandals. In March 2024, the United States placed sanctions on Mnangagwa, his wife Auxillia, and several government officials. They were accused of running illegal diamond and gold networks. A year earlier, Al Jazeera released an investigation showing how Zimbabwe’s gold was being smuggled by gangs connected to government officials. This corruption has worsened people’s suffering and deepened anger.

Right now, ZANU PF is split into two groups. One wants Mnangagwa to stay beyond 2028. The other wants Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to take over. Mnangagwa is 82, while Chiwenga is 68. Both men are part of the old guard. Zimbabweans are watching closely, but many feel there is no saviour among them. Human rights groups say people want a leader who will bring real change, but the current fight looks more like a battle for power than a fight for the people.

What is clear is that Mnangagwa is weaker than ever before. For the first time, his enemies are not only outside in the opposition, but also inside his own party. This is why many believe this is the biggest threat to his rule yet.