Zimbabwe faces fresh political turmoil as the ruling ZANU-PF party expels war veteran Blessing "Bombshell" Geza, accusing him of treason. Geza was ousted for speaking out against President Mnangagwa’s alleged bid for a third term, fueling tensions within the party. As internal rebellion grows, what does this mean for Zimbabwe’s future?

Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa faces rebellion over his push for third term

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, for the first time since becoming president in 2017 is facing harsh criticism about his leadership from within his Zanu-PF party, with calls for him to step down. Watch to know more!

Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa faces rebellion over efforts to extend his time in office

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was named as the ruling party of Zimbabwe's presidential candidate on Saturday.&nbsp;

Mnangagwa took over in 2017 when Robert Mugabe, the country's longtime leader, was forced to step down by generals.&nbsp;

At its annual convention on Saturday, the ruling ZANU-PF gave Mnangagwa, 80, a five-year term as party leader.

"I wish to express my profound gratitude for electing me and endorsing me as the party's sole (presidential) candidate," Mnangagwa said at the event.

Mnangagwa prevailed in contested elections in 2018 that Nelson Chamisa, his primary competitor, claims were manipulated to give him the victory.

"Our party stands solid, rejuvenated and unshakeable. ZANU-PF is ready. Nothing will stand in our way," Mnangagwa told some 3,000 delegates at the congress in Harare.

Mnangagwa implored his followers to abstain from violence while standing in front of them in a bright yellow jacket bearing his photo and a matching baseball cap.

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"Never grow tired of preaching unity. Never grow tired of preaching peace. We reject violence. It's alien to ZANU-PF."

In the past, ZANU-PF has been charged with utilising violence and intimidation to terrorise opposition candidates.&nbsp;

A lawmaker and opposition activists were hurt last week when accused ZANU-PF members attacked them.&nbsp;

Two opposition politicians and 16 opposition supporters have been detained in prison since June on charges of violence, and Mnangagwa has been accused of exploiting the judiciary to suppress dissent.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa was named as the ruling party of Zimbabwe's presidential candidate on Saturday. Mnangagwa took over in 2017 when Robert Mugabe, the country's longtime leader, was forced to step down by generals.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was named as the ruling party of Zimbabwe's presidential candidate on Saturday. Mnangagwa took over in 2017 when Robert Mugabe, the country's longtime leader, was forced to step down by generals. At its annual convention on Saturday, the ruling ZANU-PF gave Mnangagwa, 80, a five-year term as party leader. "I wish to express my profound gratitude for electing me and endorsing me as the party's sole (presidential) candidate," Mnangagwa said at the event. Mnangagwa prevailed in contested elections in 2018 that Nelson Chamisa, his primary competitor, claims were manipulated to give him the victory. "Our party stands solid, rejuvenated and unshakeable. ZANU-PF is ready. Nothing will stand in our way," Mnangagwa told some 3,000 delegates at the congress in Harare. Mnangagwa implored his followers to abstain from violence while standing in front of them in a bright yellow jacket bearing his photo and a matching baseball cap. Also Read: Somalia's capital Mogadishu rocked by twin car bomb explosions, nine dead "Never grow tired of preaching unity. Never grow tired of preaching peace. We reject violence. It's alien to ZANU-PF." In the past, ZANU-PF has been charged with utilising violence and intimidation to terrorise opposition candidates. A lawmaker and opposition activists were hurt last week when accused ZANU-PF members attacked them. Two opposition politicians and 16 opposition supporters have been detained in prison since June on charges of violence, and Mnangagwa has been accused of exploiting the judiciary to suppress dissent. (with inputs from agencies)

Zimbabwe's ruling party endorses Mnangagwa as presidential candidate for 2023 vote

The United Nations on Saturday threw its support behind new elections in Zimbabwe set for July and urged the government to kickstart the African nation&#39;s economy as an &quot;urgent priority&quot;.

Achim Steiner, administrator for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was in Harare as part of a three-day trip that saw him meet Zimbabwe&#39;s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

&quot;UNDP is committed to continue supporting the preparatory process for the elections and economic recovery efforts,&quot; Steiner told reporters.

Presidential polls are due by the end of August, when Mnangagwa will face his first major test after taking over from long-time strongman Robert Mugabe, who resigned in November after four decades in office.

Among Mnangagwa&#39;s long to-do list is settling Zimbabwe&#39;s flailing economy, which battled with hyperinflation during Mugabe&#39;s time.

&quot;It is clear from my discussions with the president and government officials that jump-starting Zimbabwe&#39;s economic recovery is an urgent priority,&quot; Steiner said.&nbsp;

&quot;We commend steps being taken by government in terms of policy and legal reforms to improve the ease of doing business.&quot;&nbsp;

Steiner said the UN last year provided more than $400 million (325 million euros) to Zimbabwe through donors across several sectors including health and environment.&nbsp;

Mugabe this week in an interview said he was removed from power through a &quot;coup d&#39;etat&quot;, prompting Mnangagwa to declare the country &quot;has moved on&quot; from his former boss.

On Saturday Mnangagwa met new South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Harare and repeated his pledge to hold free, fair and credible elections.&nbsp;

&quot;As a nation, party and government we are looking to very peaceful, transparent and free elections in July this year,&quot; Mnangagwa said.

The United Nations urged the government to kickstart the African nation's economy as an 'urgent priority'

The United Nations on Saturday threw its support behind new elections in Zimbabwe set for July and urged the government to kickstart the African nation's economy as an "urgent priority". Achim Steiner, administrator for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was in Harare as part of a three-day trip that saw him meet Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa. "UNDP is committed to continue supporting the preparatory process for the elections and economic recovery efforts," Steiner told reporters. Presidential polls are due by the end of August, when Mnangagwa will face his first major test after taking over from long-time strongman Robert Mugabe, who resigned in November after four decades in office. Among Mnangagwa's long to-do list is settling Zimbabwe's flailing economy, which battled with hyperinflation during Mugabe's time. "It is clear from my discussions with the president and government officials that jump-starting Zimbabwe's economic recovery is an urgent priority," Steiner said. "We commend steps being taken by government in terms of policy and legal reforms to improve the ease of doing business." Steiner said the UN last year provided more than $400 million (325 million euros) to Zimbabwe through donors across several sectors including health and environment. Mugabe this week in an interview said he was removed from power through a "coup d'etat", prompting Mnangagwa to declare the country "has moved on" from his former boss. On Saturday Mnangagwa met new South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Harare and repeated his pledge to hold free, fair and credible elections. "As a nation, party and government we are looking to very peaceful, transparent and free elections in July this year," Mnangagwa said.

UN backs Zimbabwe polls for July

Zimbabwe&#39;s ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa today asked President Robert Mugabe to respect public opinion and step down and said he would only return home when his security was assured.

&quot;The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,&quot; Mnangagwa said in a statement.

Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe shortly being sacked by Mugabe early this month.

The crisis followed a factional squabble in the ruling ZANU-PF party over the 93-year-old Mugabe&#39;s successor.

Mnangagwa said he had rejected an invitation by Mugabe to return home to discuss the current political situation.

&quot;I told the president that I would not return home now until I am satisfied with my personal security, because of the manner and treatment were given to me by being fired.&quot; Mnangagwa was initially believed to be in South Africa.

'The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,' Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe's ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa today asked President Robert Mugabe to respect public opinion and step down and said he would only return home when his security was assured. "The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy," Mnangagwa said in a statement. Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe shortly being sacked by Mugabe early this month. The crisis followed a factional squabble in the ruling ZANU-PF party over the 93-year-old Mugabe's successor. Mnangagwa said he had rejected an invitation by Mugabe to return home to discuss the current political situation. "I told the president that I would not return home now until I am satisfied with my personal security, because of the manner and treatment were given to me by being fired." Mnangagwa was initially believed to be in South Africa.

Ousted Zimbabwe deputy president asks Mugabe to resign

President Robert Mugabe was dismissed as leader of Zimbabwe&#39;s ruling ZANU-PF party on Sunday in a move to force a peaceful end to his 37 years in power following a de facto military coup.

He was replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa, the deputy he sacked this month, sources at a special ZANU-PF meeting to decide Mugabe&#39;s fate told Reuters.

&quot;He has been expelled,&quot; one of the delegates said. &quot;Mnangagwa is our new leader.&quot;

Mugabe&#39;s wife Grace, who had harboured ambitions of succeeding Mugabe, was also expelled from the party.

Speaking before the meeting, war veterans&#39; leader Chris Mutsvangwa said the 93-year-old Mugabe was running out of time to negotiate his departure and should leave the country while he could.

&quot;He&#39;s trying to bargain for a dignified exit,&quot; he said.

Mutsvangwa followed up with threat to call for street protests if Mugabe refused to go, telling reporters: &quot;We will bring back the crowds and they will do their business.&quot;

Mnangagwa, a former state security chief known as &quot;The Crocodile,&quot; is now in line to head an interim post-Mugabe unity government that will focus on rebuilding ties with the outside world and stabilising an economy in freefall.

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Harare, singing, dancing and hugging soldiers in an outpouring of elation at Mugabe&#39;s expected overthrow.

His stunning downfall in just four days is likely to send shockwaves across Africa, where a number of entrenched strongmen, from Uganda&#39;s Yoweri Museveni to Democratic Republic of Congo&#39;s Joseph Kabila, are facing mounting pressure to quit.

Support evaporating

Men, women and children ran alongside the armoured cars and troops who stepped in this week to oust the man who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980.

Under house arrest in his lavish &#39;Blue Roof&#39; compound, Mugabe has refused to stand down even as he has watched his support from party, security services and people evaporate in less than three days.

His nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, told Reuters Mugabe and his wife were &quot;ready to die for what is correct&quot; rather than step down in order to legitimise what he described as a coup.

But on Harare&#39;s streets, few seemed to care about the legal niceties as they heralded a &quot;second liberation&quot; for the former British colony and spoke of their dreams for political and economic change after two decades of deepening repression and hardship.

&quot;These are tears of joy,&quot; said Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, holding aloft the Zimbabwean flag. &quot;I&#39;ve been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last.&quot;

The huge crowds in Harare have given a quasi-democratic veneer to the army&#39;s intervention, backing its assertion that it is merely effecting a constitutional transfer of power, rather than a plain coup, which would entail a diplomatic backlash.

Despite the euphoria, some Mugabe opponents are uneasy about the prominent role played by the military, and fear Zimbabwe might be swapping one army-backed autocrat with another, rather than allowing the people to choose their next leader.

&quot;The real danger of the current situation is that having got their new preferred candidate into State House, the military will want to keep him or her there, no matter what the electorate wills,&quot; former education minister David Coltart said.

The United States, a long-time Mugabe critic, said it was looking forward to a new era in Zimbabwe, while President Ian Khama of neighbouring Botswana said Mugabe had no diplomatic support in the region and should resign at once.

 
&nbsp;

President Robert Mugabe was dismissed as leader of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party on Sunday in a move to force a peaceful end to his 37 years in power following a de facto military coup

President Robert Mugabe was dismissed as leader of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party on Sunday in a move to force a peaceful end to his 37 years in power following a de facto military coup. He was replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa, the deputy he sacked this month, sources at a special ZANU-PF meeting to decide Mugabe's fate told Reuters. "He has been expelled," one of the delegates said. "Mnangagwa is our new leader." Mugabe's wife Grace, who had harboured ambitions of succeeding Mugabe, was also expelled from the party. Speaking before the meeting, war veterans' leader Chris Mutsvangwa said the 93-year-old Mugabe was running out of time to negotiate his departure and should leave the country while he could. "He's trying to bargain for a dignified exit," he said. Mutsvangwa followed up with threat to call for street protests if Mugabe refused to go, telling reporters: "We will bring back the crowds and they will do their business." Mnangagwa, a former state security chief known as "The Crocodile," is now in line to head an interim post-Mugabe unity government that will focus on rebuilding ties with the outside world and stabilising an economy in freefall. On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Harare, singing, dancing and hugging soldiers in an outpouring of elation at Mugabe's expected overthrow. His stunning downfall in just four days is likely to send shockwaves across Africa, where a number of entrenched strongmen, from Uganda's Yoweri Museveni to Democratic Republic of Congo's Joseph Kabila, are facing mounting pressure to quit. Support evaporating Men, women and children ran alongside the armoured cars and troops who stepped in this week to oust the man who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980. Under house arrest in his lavish 'Blue Roof' compound, Mugabe has refused to stand down even as he has watched his support from party, security services and people evaporate in less than three days. His nephew, Patrick Zhuwao, told Reuters Mugabe and his wife were "ready to die for what is correct" rather than step down in order to legitimise what he described as a coup. But on Harare's streets, few seemed to care about the legal niceties as they heralded a "second liberation" for the former British colony and spoke of their dreams for political and economic change after two decades of deepening repression and hardship. "These are tears of joy," said Frank Mutsindikwa, 34, holding aloft the Zimbabwean flag. "I've been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last." The huge crowds in Harare have given a quasi-democratic veneer to the army's intervention, backing its assertion that it is merely effecting a constitutional transfer of power, rather than a plain coup, which would entail a diplomatic backlash. Despite the euphoria, some Mugabe opponents are uneasy about the prominent role played by the military, and fear Zimbabwe might be swapping one army-backed autocrat with another, rather than allowing the people to choose their next leader. "The real danger of the current situation is that having got their new preferred candidate into State House, the military will want to keep him or her there, no matter what the electorate wills," former education minister David Coltart said. The United States, a long-time Mugabe critic, said it was looking forward to a new era in Zimbabwe, while President Ian Khama of neighbouring Botswana said Mugabe had no diplomatic support in the region and should resign at once.

Mnangagwa replaces Mugabe as ZANU-PF party chief

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