Mnangagwa coup challenger says Zanu-PF is now “full-blown mafia organisation”

HARARE – Former Zanu-PF youth member Sybeth Musengezi has launched a fresh attack on the ruling party, describing it as a “full-blown mafia organisation” run by corrupt leaders and distancing himself from any plans to rejoin under its current leadership.

Posting on social media, Musengezi said he had recently considered re-engaging with Zanu-PF after being persuaded that it would support his empowerment initiatives, but later withdrew, saying he refused to “kneel down for another man for trinkets”.

“I can only kneel down to God. In other words, to hell with the current Zanu-PF,” Musengezi said, adding that he would only consider rejoining the party under what he described as “new people-focused leadership”.

He also declared his opposition to efforts by some party supporters to push for the extension of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028, saying “NO TO 2030”.

Musengezi said his recent nationwide engagements had exposed widespread poverty among ordinary Zanu-PF supporters, while those campaigning for Mnangagwa’s term extension were “living large”.

He said hunger and hardship were affecting Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation, adding that some supporters advocating for a 2030 agenda were simultaneously asking for financial assistance.

“My tour during the past months showed me that real Zanu-PF grassroots supporters are also wallowing in abject poverty while criminals advocating for Mnangagwa’s term extension are living large,” Musengezi stated.

In 2021, Musengezi made headlines after he approached the High Court challenging the legitimacy of Zanu-PF’s November 2017 Central Committee meeting, which removed the late former President Robert Mugabe and installed Mnangagwa as party leader and subsequently head of state.

Last year, Musengezi was acquitted of fraud charges by the Harare Magistrates Court. The charges, laid under Section 136 of the Criminal Law Code, related to allegations that he had falsified his address and Zanu-PF membership details.

In its ruling, the court found that the State had failed to present credible evidence to support the allegations.

The magistrate said the prosecution had not established even a prima facie case of misrepresentation, noting that none of the State witnesses had firsthand knowledge of the alleged offence.

The court also criticised the quality of the evidence, pointing to inconsistencies and errors in Zanu-PF cell and branch records, which it said were compiled in a “chaotic and haphazard manner”.

Investigating officer Pangani Gwati conceded during proceedings that the investigation was improper and that the records contained numerous discrepancies.

“Thus, an essential element of the offence was not proven, even on a prima facie basis, and therefore acquittal must follow,” the court ruled.