Police showed up in large numbers across Zimbabwe's cities on Monday. Their presence stopped most people from joining protests against plans to keep President Mnangagwa in power longer. The ruling party Zanu-PF announced back in January that they wanted to add two extra years to his term until 2030. Mnangagwa took control after Robert Mugabe lost power through a coup in 2017, and he can't run again under current rules.
War veterans who once supported Mnangagwa have turned against him. Their leader, Blessed Geza, says the president wants to keep power past his legal limit. Businesses prepared for trouble by boarding up windows and removing valuable items from display. Most shops, schools, and street vendors stayed closed throughout Harare, Bulawayo, and other towns as police walked through empty streets.
Police announced that everything remained "peaceful" and urged citizens to go about their normal activities. Despite this claim, officers fired tear gas at a small group of protesters in western Harare who chanted against the 2030 term extension plan. Some experts believe the widespread shutdown itself sent a clear message to those in charge.
Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza called the stay-at-home protest "a huge statement by the masses" and suggested government officials "have reason to fear." Geza, who mostly shares messages through social media videos, hadn't commented publicly by Monday morning. These veterans still hold influence within the ruling party and seem to fill the gap left by opposition groups that have grown weaker from internal fighting and government pressure.
The president has repeatedly claimed he doesn't want to extend his time in office, but veterans accuse him of using supporters to push this agenda anyway. Zimbabwe's 2013 constitution clearly limits presidents to serving just two five-year terms.
War veterans who once supported Mnangagwa have turned against him. Their leader, Blessed Geza, says the president wants to keep power past his legal limit. Businesses prepared for trouble by boarding up windows and removing valuable items from display. Most shops, schools, and street vendors stayed closed throughout Harare, Bulawayo, and other towns as police walked through empty streets.
Police announced that everything remained "peaceful" and urged citizens to go about their normal activities. Despite this claim, officers fired tear gas at a small group of protesters in western Harare who chanted against the 2030 term extension plan. Some experts believe the widespread shutdown itself sent a clear message to those in charge.
Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza called the stay-at-home protest "a huge statement by the masses" and suggested government officials "have reason to fear." Geza, who mostly shares messages through social media videos, hadn't commented publicly by Monday morning. These veterans still hold influence within the ruling party and seem to fill the gap left by opposition groups that have grown weaker from internal fighting and government pressure.
The president has repeatedly claimed he doesn't want to extend his time in office, but veterans accuse him of using supporters to push this agenda anyway. Zimbabwe's 2013 constitution clearly limits presidents to serving just two five-year terms.
