Murder Allegation Against War Veteran ‘Blessed Geza’ Fuels Zanu PF Tensions

A senior Zanu PF official has accused war veteran Blessed Geza of murder, further deepening divisions within the ruling party.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has directed law enforcement to investigate the claim, linking it to Geza’s vocal criticism of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his demands for the president to step down immediately.

Geza, a former member of the Zanu PF central committee who was recently expelled, has been a strong opponent of Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his presidency beyond 2028. Leading a faction of war veterans, he has repeatedly condemned the president’s leadership, declaring him unfit to govern and calling for his immediate resignation. His outspoken stance has placed him at odds with Mnangagwa’s loyalists, raising concerns that the murder accusation may be politically motivated.

According to ZimLive, Ziyambi—who also serves as the Zanu PF chairman for Mashonaland West—made the allegations during a recent party meeting.

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“In the past, he killed someone at his homestead, and the case was not properly investigated,” Ziyambi claimed. “If you take a life, the case doesn’t just disappear. We are instructing [Police Commissioner] Mutamba to look into it.”

Sources indicate that the accusation dates back several years but was never pursued aggressively by authorities. Some within Zanu PF suggest that Geza may have been shielded due to his influence in the party and his strong ties to the war veterans’ movement. However, his fallout with Mnangagwa’s faction appears to have reignited interest in the case, raising suspicions about the timing of the renewed investigation.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF’s Masvingo Province has suspended two legislators—Benjamin Ganyiwa (Gutu East) and Roy Bhila (Chiredzi North)—on charges of promoting factionalism. Their suspensions come as internal power struggles within the party intensify.

Masvingo Zanu PF chairman Robson Mavhenyengwa confirmed the disciplinary action, stating that Ganyiwa held an unsanctioned meeting at his home with individuals from outside his constituency without notifying district and provincial leaders.

Bhila, who was dismissed as deputy industry and commerce minister in November 2023, was also present at the gathering. Both MPs have been banned from party activities, and their cases have been referred to the Zanu PF national disciplinary committee, chaired by national party chairperson Oppah Muchinguri.

Mavhenyengwa warned that all members must adhere to party rules.

“No one is above the party. The disciplinary process will be followed, regardless of an individual’s rank,” he stated.

The murder allegations and recent suspensions highlight growing divisions within Zanu PF, particularly regarding efforts to extend Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028. A faction linked to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is reportedly resisting the move, escalating tensions within the ruling party.

Masvingo, a stronghold for Mnangagwa, is now at the center of the internal conflict, with senior figures clashing over the party’s future direction. Political analysts suggest that the situation bears striking similarities to the events leading up to the 2017 military coup that saw Chiwenga oust Robert Mugabe and install Mnangagwa as president.

With law enforcement now involved in the murder allegations and political rivalries intensifying, the battle for control within Zanu PF is far from over.

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