By political Reporter-Organisers of the anti-President Emmerson Mnangagwa protests set for March 31 say they will not back down, vowing to remove him the same way Robert Mugabe was ousted—by those who once put him in power.
Mnangagwa’s second and final term is hanging by a thread, as former freedom fighters aligned with his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, have called for an “uprising” on March 31, demanding his resignation over corruption, nepotism, and other allegations.
The president, who seized power in a 2017 military coup led by then-army chief Chiwenga, had promised key democratic and economic reforms to revive Zimbabwe. However, those promises remain unfulfilled.
Leading the anti-Mnangagwa campaign is expelled Zanu PF central committee member and ex-combatant Blessed Runesu Geza, now in exile and facing politically motivated charges for his outspoken criticism of the president.
Last week, Geza—who is wanted by police for alleged theft and other crimes—claimed in a YouTube broadcast from an undisclosed location that several opposition figures, including Nelson Chamisa, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, and former MP Job Sikhala, were backing his campaign to oust Mnangagwa.
However, Chamisa swiftly dismissed these claims, emphasizing that while he remains open to constructive dialogue with all political stakeholders, he has had no involvement in the planned protests.
In a statement on social media, Chamisa wrote:
“I want to clarify that my door is always open to anyone who reaches out for constructive conversations and nation-building, but I have not been involved in recent dialogues with anyone. I do not want to be made the focal point of things that have nothing to do with me.”
Despite Chamisa’s denial, Geza maintains that opposition leaders, including Chamisa, Sikhala, Biti, Douglas Mwonzora, and Morgen Komichi, are aligned in their support for Chiwenga’s potential bid to replace Mnangagwa.
“We have spoken with all political players. The likes of Chamisa, Sikhala, Biti, Komichi, and Mwonzora. We did not leave anyone behind. We have agreed on the way forward. And among all these people, no one does not like Chiwenga,” Geza claimed.
Since taking over the opposition leadership after Morgan Tsvangirai’s death in 2018, Chamisa has remained a formidable force in Zimbabwean politics.
He has withstood political betrayals, state-sponsored repression, and the systematic dismantling of his party.
Despite election rigging and relentless attacks on his legitimacy, he continues to command strong grassroots support, making him an unavoidable factor in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has deployed riot police and soldiers across the country in anticipation of a national shutdown.