By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Major urban centers, including Harare, were largely deserted on Monday as a planned series of anti-government protests called by Blessed Geza, a former Zanu PF member, fizzled out.
The demonstrations, aimed at opposing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s potential bid to extend his rule beyond 2028, were largely ignored by the public, with only a handful of people seen protesting in the streets.
Schools and businesses across the capital and other key cities were closed, with many citizens opting to remain at home amid heightened security and a climate of fear.
Government officials and police had encouraged residents to disregard the protest calls and continue their daily activities, but many chose to stay indoors rather than face potential consequences.
Police established a heavy security presence and dispersed a small gathering of protesters on the outskirts of the central business district.
The protests were initiated by a faction of veterans from Zimbabwe’s 1970s liberation war, who are dissatisfied with the trajectory of the current government.
Blessed Geza, the faction’s leader also known as Comrade Bombshell, has gained notoriety in recent weeks for his calls for an “uprising” against Mnangagwa. Through YouTube addresses, Geza has rallied thousands of supporters, drawing attention to his platform that demands leadership change in favor of Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.
Despite his growing popularity, Zanu PF has expelled Geza from its ranks and accused him of treason, intensifying the already fraught political climate as authorities continue to seek him.
The faction’s efforts appear to have backfired, resulting in a stay-away, as fear and uncertainty permeate the population whose memories of August 1 2018 shootings and February 2019 violent protests are still fresh.