Harare, 21 April 2025 — Zimbabwe entered a new chapter of defiance this morning as the grassroots movement GEZA declared an indefinite national shutdown, calling for the immediate resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the arrest of what it terms a “criminal cartel” within government and aligned elites.
In a hard-hitting address released early Monday morning, GEZA claimed to have received damning intelligence from progressive elements within the security sector, implicating top officials in systemic looting of public resources and an alleged plan to illegally amend the Constitution to extend Mnangagwa’s presidential term to 2030.
“The situation in our country has reached another level,” a GEZA spokesperson said. “We are no longer dealing with just corruption — we are confronting the criminal hijacking of the state.”
Constitution Under Threat
According to GEZA, the Minister of Justice, the Prosecutor General, and the Speaker of Parliament are colluding to push through constitutional amendments that would not only extend Mnangagwa’s term but avoid a referendum altogether, using the ruling party’s parliamentary supermajority.
The group alleges that Section 328 of the Constitution — which bars incumbents from benefitting from their own term-limit extensions — is being deliberately targeted for removal.
“This is nothing short of criminal mutilation of the Constitution,” the statement reads. “They are rigging not just elections, but the very framework of our democracy.”
Looting on an Unprecedented Scale
The address also detailed shocking figures tied to alleged state-sanctioned theft. Among the scandals highlighted:
- $3 billion siphoned through Command Agriculture
- $1.9 billion through Kuvimba Mining
- $750 million in the Gold Incentive Scheme
- $800 million in ZESA contracts
- 548 million USD via the Office of the President and Cabinet
- Hundreds of millions more in defense asset sales and parastatal theft
Several individuals were named publicly by GEZA as targets for immediate citizens’ arrest, including high-profile businesspeople and political actors aligned with what the group calls “the Ghananda cabal.”
Call for Citizens’ Arrest and Solidarity Shutdown
Perhaps the most unprecedented element of GEZA’s announcement is the call for citizen-led arrests of named individuals, supported by what the group claims are progressive units within the security sector.
“Do not be afraid. Do not be intimidated. Progressive security forces are with the people,” the spokesperson said.
Citizens were encouraged to stay home, and businesses were asked to cooperate by releasing food stocks to hungry communities — under the promise of future compensation from a new, post-Mnangagwa government.
A Crisis of Legitimacy
Political analysts warn that Zimbabwe is now facing a full-scale crisis of legitimacy, with growing evidence of elite impunity, judicial capture, and plummeting public trust in state institutions.
GEZA’s movement, once dismissed by critics as fringe, appears to have gained momentum, amplified by frustration over the economic collapse and rising state repression.
As of this morning, reports across Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, and Chitungwiza confirmed closed shops, deserted highways, and a tense but resolute atmosphere among citizens.
What Happens Next?
GEZA has made it clear: there will be no return to normalcy until Mnangagwa vacates office and the cartel faces arrest.
With tensions rising and international eyes turning once again toward Zimbabwe, the next few days could determine not only the future of one presidency — but the fate of the entire post-liberation era.
“This shutdown will not end until we have a new government in State House,” GEZA concluded. “Enough is enough.”
