Key Points
- War veterans say Mnangagwa abandoned independence-era principles.
- They accuse him of fostering corruption, nepotism, and cronyism.
- They demand his immediate resignation or face constitutional repercussions.
War veterans from Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle in the 1970s have demanded President Emmerson Mnangagwa resign immediately, claiming he has abandoned the battle for independence’s tenets.
War veterans denounce Mnangagwa’s failure to uphold liberation values
The veterans convened a press conference in Harare to voice their complaints, led by Blessed Runesu Geza, a former MP and former soldier who is known in ZANU-PF circles as “Bombshell” for his acerbic remarks. The principles they fought for during the nation’s battle of independence were allegedly undermined by Mnangagwa’s encouragement of corruption and bad governance.
In order to free Zimbabwe from minority colonial control, Geza stated, “Today, I stand with fellow patriotic Zimbabweans who fought in the trenches—commanders from both ZIPRA (Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army) and ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army).” “Fourty-four years after independence, the ideals of economic emancipation, freedom, and justice that inspired us during the war have not been realized.”
Geza claimed that some black leaders had taken up the harsh methods of the colonial government while bemoaning the unemployment and poverty that still affect most Zimbabweans.
According to Geza, Mnangagwa took office in 2017 with the support of citizens and veterans of the conflict through “Operation Restore Legacy.” “However, by surrounding himself with dishonest cronies who take advantage of national resources for their own benefit, he has betrayed the people.”
Geza charged that the president selected unfit loyalists to replace combat veterans who had advocated for social justice. He asserted that Mnangagwa’s Cabinet is full of underperforming ministers who were picked because of their financial backing or familial connections.
Advocate Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament, was also under fire for allegedly working with Sengezo Tshabangu, the secretary-general of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), to overthrow elected lawmakers and install loyalists in return for promises of a vice presidential appointment.
Geza cited the nomination of his children and relatives to important posts as evidence that Mnangagwa was transforming Zimbabwe into his personal domain. He cautioned that such acts might destabilize the nation.
Leadership failures push veterans to demand immediate resignation
Geza threatened to reprimand Mnangagwa if he did not resign, citing the president’s purported inability to fulfill his constitutional, moral, and historical obligations. He stated that Mnangagwa’s quest for his contentious 2030 agenda goes against the wishes of 90% of voters who supported term limits for presidents in a 2013 referendum.
We can see that Mnangagwa is not qualified to be the nation’s leader. We request that he resign amicably. “The Zimbabwean people must act within the Constitution to remove a rogue president if he doesn’t,” Geza stated.
