A SECTION of war veterans yesterday said President Emmerson Mnangagwa must step down for alleged constitutional violations and failing to rein in corruption.

The call, which was made at a Press conference in Harare yesterday, represents one of the strongest pushbacks against plans to prolong Mnangagwa’s stay in power until 2030.

Zanu PF says it will go ahead and reward Mnangagwa with an extra two years when his final term ends in 2028 via a constitutional amendment so that he completes his vision of transforming the country.

Mnangagwa has distanced himself from attempts by his loyalists pushing for his tenure to be extended by twoyears after his constitutionally-mandated two terms end in 2028.

Zanu PF central committee member and war veteran, Blessing Runesu Geza, flanked by other senior war veterans at a Press conference in Harare called on his Zanu PF leader and President to pack his bags or face the wrath of the people.

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“It is clear to us that Mnangagwa has failed, he is not fit to run this country and his time to go is now.

“We ask him politely to let go, if he refuses to take heed of this advice, we have no option but to ask the people of Zimbabwe to deal with him in line with the Constitution,” Geza said.

War veterans, who led the ouster of the late former President Robert Mugabe, are unhappy with attempts by Mnangagwa’s loyalists to extend his term of office.

Mnangagwa has said he is a constitutionalist and will retire when his last term ends.

Geza claimed that all actions point to a “well-orchestrated” plan from the President’s Office for Mnangagwa to hang on to power.

“How do you claim to be a constitutionalist and yet you host people at your farm to further these agendas?

“How do you claim not to be involved when your ministers appointed under your hand issue official statements from government in support of the illegal and dangerous 2030 agenda? 

“We as war veterans are against this 2030 agenda, we cannot disrespect the voice of 90% of those who voted yes towards term limits. No — we can’t allow it,” he said.

Critics say the ED2030 agenda is seen as a way to block Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s ascendancy to the presidency, a move which has irked veterans of the liberation struggle.

“Emmerson Mnangagwa on assumption of power, showed that he was a man who had learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.

“He forgot the roots of his power on day one and instead of ensuring that he corrected the mistakes of the late former President Robert Mugabe, he went on to prove to all of us that Mugabe was actually a saint,” Geza said, adding that  those that fought in Mnangagwa’s corner before the ouster of Mugabe had been sidelined.

Happison Nenji, a member of the Zanla High Command during the liberation struggle, said it was time for Zimbabweans to constitutionally deal with Mnangagwa for violating human dignity and constitutional freedoms.

“We fought to ensure freedom and prosperity for our people, this is not what we are seeing at the moment, this country does not belong to a few individuals or the corrupt, it’s a nation for all and it must be respected and viewed as such,” he said.

The war veterans accused Mnangagwa of appointing non-performing ministers.

Mnangagwa has in the past defended the re-appointment of Sports minister Kirsty Coventry despite reservations from neutrals that the Olympian had not done enough in the ministry.

“When a minister is appointed, they report to the appointer. It is me who gets satisfied whether a minister is doing well or not.

“The fact that I’ve reappointed her means I’m satisfied,” he said in 2023 after journalists had queried the reappointment of Coventry.

The war veterans said they were sidelined and benefits which were supposed to be accorded to them neglected hence they were turned into “destitutes and beggars”.

Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association secretary-general Samuel Parirenyatwa said the association was yet to discuss the ED2030 agenda.

“We have not yet discussed that issue as an association. We are currently [seized] with matters associated with the welfare of our members,” he said.

Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa referred all questions to Douglas Mahiya, the party secretary for War Veterans, who was not available for comment.

Presidential spokersperson George Charamba’s phone was not being answered yesterday. Information minister Jenfan Muswere was also not picking calls when NewsDay tried to contact him.