By Crime and Courts Reporter-The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed a series of arson attacks targeting vehicles at private properties and business premises in Harare and Goromonzi, escalating political tensions ahead of the highly anticipated 31 March demonstration announced by exiled military veteran Blessed Geza.
Luxury cars linked to key allies of President Emmerson Mnangagwa—business moguls Wicknell Chivayo and Kuda Tagwirei—were torched late Thursday night at their respective business premises in the capital.
The attacks come just days after Geza, a former Zanu PF Central Committee member now in exile, vowed to take action against what he termed Mnangagwa’s “corruption frontmen.”
Geza, who has been vocal about alleged corruption and state capture by Mnangagwa’s inner circle, specifically named Chivayo and Tagwirei as prime targets in his call for resistance against the ruling elite.
His movement has gained traction among disgruntled citizens, war veterans, and opposition activists, who accuse Mnangagwa of consolidating power at the expense of economic stability and democratic freedoms.
In a statement released Friday, ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that police had launched an investigation into the coordinated arson attacks.
He detailed how the incidents occurred at various business premises in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands, and Goromonzi during the early hours of Friday, 28 March 2025.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has received reports of petrol-instigated burning of moving vehicles at business premises in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands, and Goromonzi on 28 March 2025 between 12 midnight and 4 AM,” Nyathi said.
He added that perpetrators, who were seen driving the vehicles, deliberately set them ablaze before jumping into getaway cars and fleeing at high speed. “The suspects quickly jumped onto accompanying vehicles and ran away,” Nyathi noted, emphasizing that investigations were ongoing.
The attacks and the looming 31 March demonstration come amid deepening tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
While Mnangagwa has steadily consolidated power since taking over from Robert Mugabe in 2017, through a military coup, cracks within the ruling Zanu PF party have widened, with Chiwenga reportedly positioning himself as an alternative power center.
Chiwenga, a former military commander who played a pivotal role in Mnangagwa’s rise to power, is believed to be growing increasingly frustrated with the president’s grip on state resources and patronage networks.
His allies within the security sector and war veterans’ circles have reportedly been sidelined, leading to heightened factional tensions.
Geza’s call for mass demonstrations on 31 March has added a new dimension to this internal struggle.
While Mnangagwa’s administration has dismissed Geza as a political fugitive, his ability to mobilize resistance—especially among disgruntled ex-military personnel—has become a growing concern for the government.
The targeted attacks on Chivayo and Tagwirei, both seen as Mnangagwa’s financial pillars, signal an escalation in political hostilities.
With just days left before the scheduled demonstration, security forces have reportedly been placed on high alert, with increased surveillance and roadblocks set up across major cities.
Analysts believe that the ZRP and state intelligence agencies will likely intensify crackdowns on opposition figures and activists suspected of aligning with Geza’s movement.
Meanwhile, the government has yet to issue an official statement on the attacks or the upcoming protest, fueling speculation that internal power struggles within Zanu PF may be reaching a breaking point.
As tensions mount, Zimbabweans brace for what could be a defining moment in the country’s ongoing political turmoil.