Almost nobody showed up at Robert Mugabe Square for the big protest. Police sent away the few people who came. They had already warned everyone that the gathering was against the law and would be treated as illegal.
People talked to Reporters off camera about why they stayed home. Many said they wanted President Emmerson Mnangagwa gone but were afraid to join the protest. Past protests ended with violence, looting, and people getting shot or arrested. One person mentioned not wanting to be caught between angry crowds and armed forces like what happened on August 1, 2018.
Many citizens just did not trust Geza, the man who became famous after he cursed at President Mnangagwa in an interview. They think he only wants power for himself. Someone pointed out that the journalist who interviewed Geza is in jail right this minute, but Geza stays free and hidden somewhere. This makes people question his motives.
The lack of clear leadership bothered many. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has kept quiet, making people wonder who would take charge if Mnangagwa left. Someone asked what would happen if they removed the current president and ended up with someone even worse than him.
Even though the protest failed, the M31 Movement uncovered deep frustrations. Citizens hate the corruption around President Mnangagwa. They mentioned his connections to Wicknell Chivayo and other corrupt figures. The courts never seem to punish these people because they hang around with the president.
Life remains hard for most Zimbabweans. Young people cannot find jobs. The money keeps losing value. Everything costs more every day. Basic services have fallen apart across the country. Water comes and goes. Roads stay broken. Hospitals and schools barely function, especially in crowded neighborhoods.
Many believe Mnangagwa wants to change the constitution just to stay president past 2028. Even members of his ZANU-PF party secretly oppose this idea. His wife Auxilia has become very unpopular because people think she wants to become president herself after him.
When asked about the next steps, most Zimbabweans said they could only watch and wait. They feel powerless to make any changes happen. The anger runs deep against the government, but with no trusted opposition leaders and fears about violence, people just keep living their daily lives feeling stuck and hopeless, waiting for something different to happen.
People talked to Reporters off camera about why they stayed home. Many said they wanted President Emmerson Mnangagwa gone but were afraid to join the protest. Past protests ended with violence, looting, and people getting shot or arrested. One person mentioned not wanting to be caught between angry crowds and armed forces like what happened on August 1, 2018.
Many citizens just did not trust Geza, the man who became famous after he cursed at President Mnangagwa in an interview. They think he only wants power for himself. Someone pointed out that the journalist who interviewed Geza is in jail right this minute, but Geza stays free and hidden somewhere. This makes people question his motives.
The lack of clear leadership bothered many. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has kept quiet, making people wonder who would take charge if Mnangagwa left. Someone asked what would happen if they removed the current president and ended up with someone even worse than him.
Even though the protest failed, the M31 Movement uncovered deep frustrations. Citizens hate the corruption around President Mnangagwa. They mentioned his connections to Wicknell Chivayo and other corrupt figures. The courts never seem to punish these people because they hang around with the president.
Life remains hard for most Zimbabweans. Young people cannot find jobs. The money keeps losing value. Everything costs more every day. Basic services have fallen apart across the country. Water comes and goes. Roads stay broken. Hospitals and schools barely function, especially in crowded neighborhoods.
Many believe Mnangagwa wants to change the constitution just to stay president past 2028. Even members of his ZANU-PF party secretly oppose this idea. His wife Auxilia has become very unpopular because people think she wants to become president herself after him.
When asked about the next steps, most Zimbabweans said they could only watch and wait. They feel powerless to make any changes happen. The anger runs deep against the government, but with no trusted opposition leaders and fears about violence, people just keep living their daily lives feeling stuck and hopeless, waiting for something different to happen.
