HARARE – Ex-combatant Blessed Geza has reignited political tensions in Zimbabwe after releasing a video call urging citizens to stage nationwide protests on October 17 to demand President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation.
In the video, shared on YouTube, Geza appeared in military fatigues at an undisclosed location, declaring that “the time for silence is over.” The war veteran, who is wanted by authorities on sedition charges, claimed to speak for a faction of disillusioned liberation war fighters frustrated by what he described as “economic decay and political betrayal.”
“We want an uprising from Plumtree to Mutare, from Zambezi to Limpopo. Everyone must flood the streets — Mnangagwa must go,” Geza said in the video.
The call comes as Zimbabwe faces growing political uncertainty, with reports of internal divisions in the ruling Zanu-PF party and rising frustration over economic hardships.
According to sources quoted by state media, security services have been placed on high alert, with police and intelligence agencies monitoring potential flashpoints ahead of the announced date.
Political analysts note that Geza’s message arrives at a time when debate over constitutional amendments — allegedly aimed at extending President Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028 to 2030 — has reignited speculation of renewed factional tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
Though Chiwenga has remained silent on Geza’s remarks, his influence within the military has reportedly been tested following the recent removal of Army Commander Lieutenant General Anselem Sanyatwe, one of his longtime allies.
Geza, meanwhile, appealed to opposition groups and civil society organisations to unite in peaceful protest, claiming that citizens “cannot continue to live under corruption, repression, and economic collapse.”
“The struggle must continue until every Zimbabwean is free from tyranny,” he said.
Authorities have not yet commented officially on Geza’s latest call, but insiders within the security establishment told The Herald that any attempt to incite public disorder “will be dealt with decisively within the confines of the law.”
As October 17 approaches, tensions are mounting, and the government’s response suggests that officials view Geza’s message as a serious security concern. Whether his call translates into actual mass mobilisation remains to be seen, but the growing unease underscores Zimbabwe’s increasingly fragile political climate.
