People across Zimbabwe stayed home today instead of going to work or school. This big protest on March 31 hit back at President Mnangagwa, whom many blame for money problems, unfair leadership, and keeping power through force. Everyone calls this the Geza Revolution after war veteran Blessed Geza, who started it.
Cities looked empty all day as stores, schools, and government offices shut down. From north to south, places like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, and Mutare saw almost nobody on the streets. Citizens made their point by simply not showing up anywhere.
War veterans who support Vice President Chiwenga organized everything. These veterans belong to a different group inside the ruling Zanu-PF party. This marks the biggest challenge Mnangagwa has faced since January 2019 when his government cracked down on fuel protests and killed at least 17 people.
The protest stayed mostly peaceful, except for small fights. Police broke up tiny groups trying to march at Robert Mugabe Square in Harare. Armed officers filled the cities, but surprisingly, the military stayed away from public view despite their reputation as the real power behind Zimbabwe politics.
All this happens because Zanu-PF splits into two camps fighting over who leads next. People close to Mnangagwa want to change the constitution just to keep him in charge past 2028. Even members of his party feel angry about this idea.
War veterans usually stand with the ruling party but have turned against Mnangagwa. They want him gone and support Chiwenga instead. Their organizing efforts seemed weak, but the huge public response proves how unhappy citizens feel with the current leadership.
One expert said war veterans might have personal reasons, but regular people clearly agree that Mnangagwa has failed them. He called the protests a mix of frustrations that warn of bigger protests coming later if nothing changes.
The main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, stayed away from these protests. People close to him say he wants to avoid helping either side of the Zanu-PF fight. He prefers building a separate movement focused on real democratic change for everyone.
His supporters remember what happened in November 2017 when public anger helped remove former President Mugabe. That only led to another Zanu-PF leader taking over - Mnangagwa himself. They want to avoid repeating that mistake.
The protest hurt the already struggling economy as businesses closed everywhere. Even street vendors, who normally survive by selling small items, stayed home. This matters because millions of Zimbabweans depend on informal jobs to feed their families.
Money problems are at the center of Zimbabwe's troubles. The local currency keeps losing value every day. Jobs disappear constantly under Mnangagwa, causing many citizens to leave the country to look for work elsewhere.
Mnangagwa recently tried to stop these problems by firing several top officials. He removed Army commander Lt-Gen Sanyatwe, Police Commissioner Matanga, and intelligence chief Moyo. Experts see these changes as attempts to strengthen his control and eliminate threats.
Despite all his efforts to crack down, war veterans promise they will keep fighting. A spokesperson stated they fought for democracy, not for single-person rule. The message seems clear after today—public anger grows higher, and Zimbabwe politics becomes more dangerous.
No one knows if this starts something bigger or just flares up briefly. But right this minute, Mnangagwa faces the toughest challenge of his time as president.
Cities looked empty all day as stores, schools, and government offices shut down. From north to south, places like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, and Mutare saw almost nobody on the streets. Citizens made their point by simply not showing up anywhere.
War veterans who support Vice President Chiwenga organized everything. These veterans belong to a different group inside the ruling Zanu-PF party. This marks the biggest challenge Mnangagwa has faced since January 2019 when his government cracked down on fuel protests and killed at least 17 people.
The protest stayed mostly peaceful, except for small fights. Police broke up tiny groups trying to march at Robert Mugabe Square in Harare. Armed officers filled the cities, but surprisingly, the military stayed away from public view despite their reputation as the real power behind Zimbabwe politics.
All this happens because Zanu-PF splits into two camps fighting over who leads next. People close to Mnangagwa want to change the constitution just to keep him in charge past 2028. Even members of his party feel angry about this idea.
War veterans usually stand with the ruling party but have turned against Mnangagwa. They want him gone and support Chiwenga instead. Their organizing efforts seemed weak, but the huge public response proves how unhappy citizens feel with the current leadership.
One expert said war veterans might have personal reasons, but regular people clearly agree that Mnangagwa has failed them. He called the protests a mix of frustrations that warn of bigger protests coming later if nothing changes.
The main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, stayed away from these protests. People close to him say he wants to avoid helping either side of the Zanu-PF fight. He prefers building a separate movement focused on real democratic change for everyone.
His supporters remember what happened in November 2017 when public anger helped remove former President Mugabe. That only led to another Zanu-PF leader taking over - Mnangagwa himself. They want to avoid repeating that mistake.
The protest hurt the already struggling economy as businesses closed everywhere. Even street vendors, who normally survive by selling small items, stayed home. This matters because millions of Zimbabweans depend on informal jobs to feed their families.
Money problems are at the center of Zimbabwe's troubles. The local currency keeps losing value every day. Jobs disappear constantly under Mnangagwa, causing many citizens to leave the country to look for work elsewhere.
Mnangagwa recently tried to stop these problems by firing several top officials. He removed Army commander Lt-Gen Sanyatwe, Police Commissioner Matanga, and intelligence chief Moyo. Experts see these changes as attempts to strengthen his control and eliminate threats.
Despite all his efforts to crack down, war veterans promise they will keep fighting. A spokesperson stated they fought for democracy, not for single-person rule. The message seems clear after today—public anger grows higher, and Zimbabwe politics becomes more dangerous.
No one knows if this starts something bigger or just flares up briefly. But right this minute, Mnangagwa faces the toughest challenge of his time as president.
