Zimbabwe is now facing one of its most dangerous political moments since Emmerson Mnangagwa took power in 2017. What was once a battle between the ruling party and the opposition has become something far more explosive. The fight is now inside ZANU PF itself and for the first time in years, the house is truly divided. Many Zimbabweans are stunned to see that the biggest threat to Mnangagwa is now coming from his own comrades.
The chaos began when Mnangagwa and his loyalists started pushing a controversial plan to extend his rule until 2030. This move has angered even some of the most loyal ZANU PF members. What began as quiet murmurs has grown into open rebellion. Some senior party figures are now demanding that Mnangagwa step down immediately or face removal. To protect himself, the president has already fired some top security officials. Experts say this is a clear sign he fears a coup from within his own party.
For decades, ordinary citizens have marched, protested and risked everything to demand change. But rarely have ZANU PF insiders taken such bold and public stands. This week, things changed. Protesters marched through the streets answering a call from one of Mnangagwa’s own comrades. For a ruling party that has maintained control since independence in 1980, this kind of defiance from within is not only rare but deeply dangerous.
The economic crisis is feeding the flames. Zimbabwe’s economy has collapsed. Jobs are few. Prices change daily. Basic goods are out of reach for most people. Families cannot save. They cannot plan. They cannot dream. Generations have grown up in poverty, and now even ZANU PF members are saying enough is enough. Human rights groups say the people are hungry for change and desperate for a leader who actually cares about their suffering.
Within ZANU PF, the war has two sides. One group wants Mnangagwa to stay in power until 2030. The other wants Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to take over. The constitution says Mnangagwa’s term ends in 2028. But his supporters started chanting the so-called 2030 agenda last year. In December, a motion was passed inside the party to keep him beyond 2028. It still needs to go through the Senate and maybe a referendum. But the fact that the debate has even reached this point has torn the party apart.
Many Zimbabweans see this as an attempt to destroy the constitution and drag the country deeper into dictatorship. Mnangagwa is now 82 years old. His leadership has brought pain, corruption, and fear. But instead of planning for a peaceful handover, he is trying to cling to power like Mugabe before him.
A loud and angry voice challenging him is that of Blessed Bombshell Geza, a war veteran and senior ZANU PF figure. Geza has gone public accusing the president of betrayal. In a viral video, he said Mnangagwa only listens to his wife and children. He says the First Family has captured the state and turned it into a personal empire. Geza says Mnangagwa will be forced out.
Auxillia Mnangagwa has her own controversies. Along with her husband, she was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for illegal gold and diamond activities. Al Jazeera’s 2023 documentary revealed how Zimbabwe’s gold is being smuggled by gangs working with government officials. These scandals have only made the cracks in ZANU PF wider.
Some people say Geza cannot be trusted because he was part of the system for years. But the fact that his words are gaining support shows how desperate the situation has become. Whether Geza will lead meaningful change remains unclear. But what is certain is that Mnangagwa’s hold on power is now slipping fast.
Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads. The real battle is no longer about one man but about the future of a broken nation.
About The Author
