Harare – Blessed Runesu Geza, a former member of Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF central committee who became a vocal critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has died in South Africa. He was 71, according to family statements released on .
Geza, widely known by his wartime moniker “Cde Bombshell,” had been battling cancer, friends reported. The family statement, however, offered limited details, noting he died “at a cardio hospital” without specifying the facility or precise cause of death. His death marks the end of a turbulent political journey, from liberation war veteran to outspoken opponent of the government he once served.
Born in , Geza’s early life and specific contributions during Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle remain somewhat obscured, with details proving difficult to verify. He claimed involvement with the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), the armed wing of ZANU-PF, during the Second Chimurenga, the bush war that led to Zimbabwe’s independence in . However, questions have been raised regarding the extent of his wartime activities.
Geza rose to prominence in as a spokesperson for a group of disaffected former combatants who publicly criticized Mnangagwa’s leadership. The group accused the president of corruption and governance failures, challenging his legitimacy and calling for significant political change. Geza quickly became a leading voice in this nascent opposition movement.
His criticisms prompted a swift response from the government. In , police declared Geza a wanted man on charges of treason, alleging he was inciting unrest. He reportedly fled the country around this time, continuing his campaign against Mnangagwa from South Africa. From exile, he broadcast messages calling for mass action, though with varying degrees of success.
Geza’s efforts did yield at least one notable outcome: a successful national job boycott. However, subsequent calls for street protests were met with a forceful response from Zimbabwean security services, who arrested dozens of individuals, some of whom remain in detention as of this reporting. While Geza was often strident in his criticism of Mnangagwa, he appeared to adopt a more conciliatory tone towards Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
In a final post on his X account, Geza indicated he was in his “final moments,” expressing regret that he might not live to see a changed Zimbabwe. The post, which appeared shortly before the announcement of his death, underscored his continued commitment to political reform.
Geza’s expulsion from ZANU-PF in solidified his position as an opposition figure. He had previously served as a Member of Parliament for Sanyati. Prior to his political fallout with Mnangagwa, Geza was also involved in a fraud case, serving as the complainant in a US$1.3 million matter against Basil Nyabadza, a former head of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA). He failed to appear in court related to this case.
The death of Blessed Geza removes a prominent, if controversial, voice from Zimbabwe’s political landscape. His criticisms of Mnangagwa resonated with a segment of the population disillusioned with the current government, and his passing is likely to be met with mixed reactions. While his methods were often divisive, Geza’s challenge to the status quo highlighted deep-seated frustrations within Zimbabwe and underscored the ongoing struggle for political reform. The long-term impact of his activism remains to be seen, but his name will undoubtedly be recorded in the history of Zimbabwe, as his family stated.
The circumstances surrounding his death, and the potential for any political fallout, are currently unclear. Further reporting will be necessary to assess the full implications of this event for Zimbabwe’s already complex political situation.
