War veterans from Zimbabwe have asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign from office. These veterans belong to the ruling Zanu-PF Party and claim the president shows favoritism to family members, allows corruption, and has failed to fix the country's dying economy. Leaders of the Zanu-PF Party say they aren't taking these demands seriously.
Blessed Runesu Geza spoke at an online press conference. He fought in Zimbabwe's freedom wars of the 1960s and 1970s and sits on Zanu-PF's central committee. Geza demanded the president leave office right away.
He said Mnangagwa hasn't kept promises he made back in 2017 when the army helped him take power. Many fighters who died for the country's freedom don't have proper graves, Geza explained. He talked about how Zimbabwe is becoming a banana republic with widespread theft happening as citizens struggle to survive.
"We as war veterans say enough is enough. You've shown you've failed. Things can't possibly get worse," Geza said in Shona during the conference. "Corruption threatens our security because Emmerson protects these people. Citizens ask us, 'Why did you give us this kind of person? We don't like him anymore.' We beg you: Leave peacefully. If you refuse, people will use the Constitution to force you out."
Farai Marapira speaks for Zanu-PF and dismissed these calls for Mnangagwa to step down during a VOA interview. "The party has a clear position that comes through proper channels. We won't dignify random complaints by answering them," Marapira said. "People can speak freely outside the party - that's democracy. But our position remains clear: We held a conference, and we'll stick with those decisions. Everything else is just noise."
At a recent party meeting, Zanu-PF leaders voted for Mnangagwa to run for a third term in 2028. This would require changing the country's constitution first.
Eldred Masunungure teaches political science at the University of Zimbabwe. He told VOA the war veterans feel genuinely frustrated because things haven't improved like they expected after Mnangagwa replaced Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
"The political situation looks extremely hard to predict right now, but what's clear is they clearly expressed their frustration with how things have gone during the past few years under the second republic," Masunungure said. "That much is certain. But what might happen because of their actions and demands remains very uncertain in my view."
The "second republic" refers to Mnangagwa's time as president following Mugabe's 37-year rule. Brighton Chipamhadze is an independent commentator who analyzes politics in Harare. He believes Geza's announcement reveals splits inside the ruling party.
"As Comrade Geza points out, certain individuals benefit from Mnangagwa staying in power and want him to extend his term," Chipamhadze said. "But another group within the ruling party opposes Mnangagwa extending his time in office."
Zimbabwe's constitution, which became law in 2013, allows parliament to remove the president through impeachment if lawmakers believe he can't perform his duties. Mnangagwa ranks among the oldest leaders in Africa. He will turn 86 years old in 2028.
Blessed Runesu Geza spoke at an online press conference. He fought in Zimbabwe's freedom wars of the 1960s and 1970s and sits on Zanu-PF's central committee. Geza demanded the president leave office right away.
He said Mnangagwa hasn't kept promises he made back in 2017 when the army helped him take power. Many fighters who died for the country's freedom don't have proper graves, Geza explained. He talked about how Zimbabwe is becoming a banana republic with widespread theft happening as citizens struggle to survive.
"We as war veterans say enough is enough. You've shown you've failed. Things can't possibly get worse," Geza said in Shona during the conference. "Corruption threatens our security because Emmerson protects these people. Citizens ask us, 'Why did you give us this kind of person? We don't like him anymore.' We beg you: Leave peacefully. If you refuse, people will use the Constitution to force you out."
Farai Marapira speaks for Zanu-PF and dismissed these calls for Mnangagwa to step down during a VOA interview. "The party has a clear position that comes through proper channels. We won't dignify random complaints by answering them," Marapira said. "People can speak freely outside the party - that's democracy. But our position remains clear: We held a conference, and we'll stick with those decisions. Everything else is just noise."
At a recent party meeting, Zanu-PF leaders voted for Mnangagwa to run for a third term in 2028. This would require changing the country's constitution first.
Eldred Masunungure teaches political science at the University of Zimbabwe. He told VOA the war veterans feel genuinely frustrated because things haven't improved like they expected after Mnangagwa replaced Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
"The political situation looks extremely hard to predict right now, but what's clear is they clearly expressed their frustration with how things have gone during the past few years under the second republic," Masunungure said. "That much is certain. But what might happen because of their actions and demands remains very uncertain in my view."
The "second republic" refers to Mnangagwa's time as president following Mugabe's 37-year rule. Brighton Chipamhadze is an independent commentator who analyzes politics in Harare. He believes Geza's announcement reveals splits inside the ruling party.
"As Comrade Geza points out, certain individuals benefit from Mnangagwa staying in power and want him to extend his term," Chipamhadze said. "But another group within the ruling party opposes Mnangagwa extending his time in office."
Zimbabwe's constitution, which became law in 2013, allows parliament to remove the president through impeachment if lawmakers believe he can't perform his duties. Mnangagwa ranks among the oldest leaders in Africa. He will turn 86 years old in 2028.
