War Veterans– As pressure mounts on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to account for his leadership failures, reports have emerged suggesting that luxury vehicles are being quietly handed out to outspoken critics within the ruling party and veterans’ ranks in a strategic effort to buy their silence.
According to sources within the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), a faction of critics of Mnangagwa—particularly those vocal about corruption and misgovernance—have been targeted with enticing perks, including high-end vehicles. The intention, insiders say, is to neutralise dissent, especially from individuals who hold influence in grassroots political circles.
Among the most prominent of these critics is Blessed Runesu Geza, popularly known as Comrade Bombshell. Geza has openly called for Mnangagwa to step down, accusing the president of turning a blind eye to deep-rooted corruption and economic decay. His growing popularity among disenfranchised war veterans has reportedly rattled some within ZANU PF, prompting attempts to soften his stance.
One high-ranking ZNLWVA official (whose name has been withheld for safety reasons) was allegedly gifted a fleet of vehicles that included four Toyota GD6 double-cab pickups and several compact Toyota Aqua models. “It’s clear what’s going on,” a source within the war veterans’ association told The Standard. “Some comrades who were previously raising their voices are suddenly quiet, and then you see them driving brand new cars.”
While these allegations remain unconfirmed by government officials, they have fueled speculation that Mnangagwa’s inner circle is increasingly resorting to patronage politics to maintain control, particularly among former liberation fighters who played a key role in the president’s rise to power.
Mnangagwa Critics Allegedly Tempted with Luxury Cars Amid Growing Dissent Among War Veterans
ZANU PF insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity described the move as a “calculated strategy” to placate restless war veterans ahead of potentially turbulent internal restructuring, and to deflect opposition to any constitutional amendments that might allow Mnangagwa to extend his rule beyond 2028.
However, not all within the ZNLWVA are swayed. Andreas Ethan Mathibela, a prominent faction leader of the war veterans association, has continued to speak out despite increased surveillance from state security agents. Border control officers at Plumtree, Maitengwe, and Mphoengs were reportedly instructed earlier this year to restrict his travel outside the country.
Mathibela, who has repeatedly denounced alleged plans to extend Mnangagwa’s term beyond the two-term constitutional limit, dismissed the reports that he was among those who received vehicles. “I haven’t received a car, or anything material, or even money,” Mathibela told The Standard. “Let me put your fears to rest—no one can buy me with anything.”
He added: “The route I have taken as an individual is that I work on behalf of the marginalised veterans and citizens. So there is no amount of money, or gifts, or anything that can sway me from that position.”
Despite these assurances, concerns persist that the use of state-aligned business figures to dole out incentives may undermine democratic processes and fuel elite entrenchment. One name that continues to surface in this discourse is businessman Wicknell Chivayo—a flamboyant entrepreneur who openly calls himself Mnangagwa’s “son.”
For over two years, Chivayo has been handing out vehicles to musicians, social media influencers, clerics, and traditional leaders, with many of the recipients publicly praising President Mnangagwa afterward. While critics view Chivayo’s generosity as thinly veiled political patronage, Mnangagwa has maintained that the businessman is simply a “philanthropist.”
ZANU PF’s director of information, Farai Marapira, has categorically denied the allegations of vehicle-based appeasement. “There is no such programme to buy off critics,” he said. “This is propaganda meant to tarnish the image of the party and the president.”
Still, observers note a worrying pattern in which material incentives are increasingly being used to silence legitimate political dissent. Political analyst Vivid Gwede said: “This culture of rewarding silence through wealth distribution is not only dangerous—it’s corrosive. It undermines transparency, good governance, and the voices of those who are supposed to hold leaders accountable.”
As the debate rages, Mnangagwa’s administration continues to grapple with growing dissatisfaction across multiple sectors—ranging from the war veterans’ movement to civil society and ordinary citizens—many of whom feel left behind in a faltering economy riddled with inflation, joblessness, and widening inequality.
With elections still several years away, the stakes are high. Whether the ruling party’s alleged charm offensive will succeed in muting its most vocal critics remains to be seen, but for now, the war of loyalties within ZANU PF and its allied structures shows no sign of abating.
Source- Pindula
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