Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa faces what experts say is the greatest threat to his rule, as the succession war breaks out ahead of the general election scheduled for 2028.

The President and his supporters’ recent comics extended their domination to 2030, leading to the phone call, protest From within his party, the president resigned or was forced to do so. The turbulent people have been dismissed by senior security officials, a move that experts say Mnangagwa is avoiding overthrow in a coup.

The president has long faced criticism from Zimbabweans, but dissent in his Zanu-PF party is rare and public calls for demonstrations against him are unprecedented. Demonstrators participated in a protest called by top Zanu-PF members on the street on Monday.

Zimbabwe has been in a political crisis that has led to decades Economic stagnationlack of work and general government dysfunction. Over the past two decades, excessive inflation has succumbed South African countries’ economies to their knees and eliminated the savings of ordinary people.

“Zimbabweans are tired and need a Messiah,” Blessing Vava, the crisis director of Zimbabwe’s human rights organization, told Al Jazeera.

Here is what you know about the latest crisis:

What’s wrong with Zanu-PF?

Since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, internal divisions within the ruling Zanu-PF party are driving the current crisis.

Two major factions are at Loggerheads, one supporting Mnangagwa’s long term and the other supporting his 68-year-old vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s upgrade.

Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 with the promise of democracy and economic reform. However, critics say corruption is still high and the opposition has always been Targetthe economy continues to decline.

Can Mnangagwa rule after 2028?

Zimbabwe’s constitution has two years of restrictions on the president. Mnangagwa is currently his second electoral term, which will end in 2028.

However, since last year, some members of the Zanu-PF party have been chanting the “2030 Agenda” that the president should continue to rule for the third term to continue reforms, although this would be unconstitutional.

At a meeting in December, the party formally adopted a motion to extend Mnangagwa’s rule to 2030. This is a permit to ratify the Senate and national referendum, but the motion has sparked nationwide debate and controversy.

Who is the blessed “blockbuster” Geza?

In Zanu-PF, an opposition faction led by the blessing of “Bombshell” Geza, a veteran and senior party member of the Liberation War, has since held meetings to speak loudly to Mnangagwa. He accused the government of corruption and called on people to protest. In a video posted on social media, he regrets supporting the rise of power in support of the president.

“Once he (Mnangagwa) has the taste of power, he escalated corruption, forgot the people, and only remembered his family,” Geza said. The politician said Mannan Geguva would be forced out and accused him of “surrendering” power to his wife and children, saying he was the strong behind the president’s third-term bid.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, her husband and several other government officials Approved by the United States In March 2024, he was suspected of participating in the illegal diamond and gold network. In 2023, Al Jazeera’s investigation revealed that Zimbabwean officials are using it Smuggling gangs Selling the country’s gold to soften the impact of sanctions.

However, Geza’s critics point out that he is also part of an institution that has long controlled Zimbabwe. Analyst Takura Zhanggaazha told Al Jazeera that Geza’s opposition gained wider appeal, just because it was at a time when the country’s national economy was also struggling – Zimbabweans blamed it on the ruling government. He added that any support Geza asked Mnangagwa to resign was not because people thought he would fight for them.

“Mr. Geza is the representative of (government) in the eyes of the public,” Zhangazha said. “So, he has no organic or popular authenticity.”

Zanu-PF officials and Mnangagwa both called Geza’s ridicule “traitor”. The politician was reportedly removed from the party on March 7. Police were removed from police on multiple charges, including “destroying the president’s power” and suspected of inciting public violence.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa restructured the country’s national security leadership. General Anselem Sanyatwe, presidential guard commander, was fired last week. Earlier, police chief Godwin Matanga and intelligence chief Isaac Moyo were dismissed.

What happened on Monday?

Geza this week called for a large-scale demonstration against President Mnangagwa in recent weeks. By Friday, security officials had already flocked to the streets to stop vehicles in the capital Harare.

On Monday, some protesters gathered at the city’s Robert Mugabe Square, although social media videos showed armored tanks rolling in the streets as security strengthened.

However, most people choose to stay at home to avoid potential violence. As a result, businesses and offices are completely closed nationwide despite authorities urging people to go to work. Vava of Zimbabwe’s crisis said many Zimbabweans were bored with the power struggles of Zanu PF, but they protested in their own way.

“Zimbabweans feel cheated and they don’t want to use it again,” Vawa said. “But the closure is also a success. Choosing to stay home, what we see is also proven by Zimbabweans saying we don’t want to be dragged into your internal battle.”

Meanwhile, those gathered were forcibly dispersed tear gas. Police also arrested dozens of other people. Officials said Tuesday they arrested 95 protesters on charges of “public violence” and “peace violation”. Officials said some were arrested at the demonstration sites, while others were arrested for their social media posts.

State-owned newspapers, such as the Zimbabwe Herald, reported that protests were “failed.” Government spokesman Farai Muroiwa Marapira said in an article on X that the protesters were “shamed”.

Good morning in Zimbabwe. Another day to go to work and improve our country. Planners and planners are already ashamed. Just like we said…

The voices on social media are hardly real-life whispers.

Quasijournos creates flight numbers that do not exist and claim CDE… pic.twitter.com/cvuz6wzpyf

– Rejoicing rash rovo (@saranty_they_happy) March 31, 2025

Why does the current crisis evoke memories of Robert Mugabe’s strike?

For many, the current crisis is reminiscent of late collapse Robert MugabeHe was in power for 37 years before being removed from the coup in 2017.

Mugabe was forced to withdraw at the age of 93 and led the country’s struggle for independence. However, his subsequent rule was characterized by opposition members, elections, corruption and economic stagnation. For decades, he refused to give up his presidency.

Mnangagwa was a long-time ally of Mugabe and served as Minister of Defense for the last few years of Mugabe’s rule, then served as Minister of Defense. He has close ties with the army.

But who will replace Mugabe if the two fell: Mnangwaga has the support of the army on the one hand, while Mugabe wants to hand over his wife, Grace Mugabe, to the other.

On November 6, 2017, Mugabe rejected Mnangagwa, triggering the beginning of his decline. A week later, the armed forces Control of seizureMnangagwa is in power.

Now, the president seems to be trapped in the same spiral. Analysts say that despite his promise to hand over power to Vice President Chiwenga, the main player in the Mugabe coup, Mnangagwa has since changed his tune.

Chiwenga claims to speak to it, and he has not publicly stated that he is willing to run for president or oppose Mnangagwa’s desire.

Vava told Al Jazeera that Mnangagwa is unlikely to succeed in extending his rule because citizens are tired of political plots and deeply divided due to the internal cleavage of Zanu-PF.

“People don’t want the 2030 agenda,” he said. “It will be the battle for Mnangagwa to survive.”