Hints that Mnangagwa, who was once Mugabe’s deputy until they fell out over the growing political ambitions of the then-first lady, wanted to stay in power beyond 2028 started two years ago.
The slogan “2030 he will still be the leader” began to be chanted at Zanu-PF rallies with his supporters saying he needed to remain in office to complete his “Agenda 2030” development programme – though President Mnangagwa publicly rejected the idea.
He has faced some fierce detractors within Zanu-PF, but his main critic – Blessed Geza, also known as “Bombshell” – died last week.
This time last year Geza, a respected veteran of the 1970s war of independence and then member of Zanu-PF’s powerful central committee, had launched a scathing attack on Mnangagwa’s ambition to stay in power.
He apologised for helping him come into office and accused the president of nepotism in his bid to stay in office beyond 2028.
Zanu-PF expelled Geza from the party for disloyalty and he was forced into hiding.
Yet he continued to attract a large following on social media, where he regularly posted videos calling for protests.
Hours before his death a message posted on his social media pages urged Zimbabweans to carry forward the “noble war” to remove President Mnangagwa and “end the plunder of our country”.
He was in South Africa when his family announced his death on Friday.
“At a time when silence would have been easier, he chose to speak out against corruption and nepotism that continue to undermine the promise of independence,” Andrease Ethan Mathibela, national chairman of the influential Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, said.
The government is now forging forward with its 2030 plans for Mnangagwa and says the intention behind the draft law is to strengthen governance and bring political stability.
