A deepening rift between ZANU-PF and a section of War Veterans has seen sharp exchanges between supporters of extending the President`s term of office and war veterans who have questioned the government’s leadership, drawing comparisons with the colonial administration of Ian Smith.
At a recent gathering, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe fiercely defended Mnangagwa’s continued leadership, invoking divine support for the President’s extended stay in power. He insisted that the President will remain at the helm beyond 2027, despite Zimbabwe’s constitutionally mandated two-term limit.
Supporters argue that his leadership has ushered in economic transformation and stability, warranting continuity.
However, A of war veterans, historically a key pillar of ZANU-PF, have voiced strong discontent, accusing the current administration of abandoning the liberation values they fought for. Some have gone as far as likening the government’s governance style to that of the former Rhodesian regime under Ian Smith.
Firebrand war veteran and ZANU-PF Central Committee member Blessed Runesu Geza weighed in on the matter, suggesting that power dynamics in Zimbabwe have led to a cycle where new leadership assumes the traits of its predecessors.
