Nobody knows if Zimbabweans will join the March 31 protests called by Blessed Geza. He used to serve on the Zanu PF central committee as a war veteran. Many ask if people care about his call or see it as just another power game between political groups. Police and soldiers already stand guard in cities across the country. They seem ready to crack down hard if large crowds form.
Geza went missing when police started looking for him. He recently appeared again on social media, this time asking for a "mega demonstration" on Monday. In his video message, he wore army clothes. He wants people across Zimbabwe to march against President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He blames the president for stealing money and running the country badly.
Police named Geza a wanted person back in February. They said he broke laws about respecting the president. Police spokesman Paul Nyathi asked everyone to stay peaceful. He warned that officers would watch for any trouble. Experts disagree about whether many people will show up. Some think most citizens feel tired of politics and see unclear goals in these protests. Others point to anger about money problems that might push people into the streets.
Geza claimed several opposition leaders backed him, including Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti, and Job Sikhala. Chamisa quickly denied any connection and said he never talked with Geza about protests. The main war veterans group also pulled away from Geza's plans. A different war veterans faction led by Andreas Mathibela hasn't said anything yet. The main group's speaker, Cornelius Muwoni, claimed they only heard about Geza's ideas online.
Security sources believe police added more patrols as safety measures. They think these protests come from fights inside the ruling party rather than real public concerns. One insider suggested the demonstrations might help one ruling party group hurt its rivals instead of fixing citizens' problems. With just days left before the planned protests, party fights seem more important than what regular people need.
A security official said Zimbabwean citizens become chess pieces in political games that ignore their basic needs. Experts predict few people will answer Geza's call based on past failed protests. Professor Stephen Chan from London thinks war veteran splits and opposition division will keep numbers low. He warned that violent police action might accidentally create more support for Geza. He advised the president to let small protests happen peacefully and then point out how few people joined.
Political expert Eldred Masunungure noticed many feel upset about the economy but lack energy for mass action like in the 1990s. He said real uprisings happen without warning and give police no time to prepare, unlike these announced protests. Masunungure suggested that Geza should have asked people to stay home instead of facing dangerous police forces in the streets. He added that opposition parties seem almost dead and cannot bring people together anymore.
He believes war veterans alone cannot change things. Any group hoping for success needs regular citizens to join them, like what happened in November 2017. But he doubts many Zimbabweans will answer Geza's call this time. Kudzai Mutisi, another political commentator, agreed the protests will fail. He said those asking for protests lacked organization and popularity. They have no clear plan to run Zimbabwe better. He claimed no trustworthy opposition voices exist in the country anymore because they fight among themselves and cannot bring people together against President Mnangagwa.
Geza went missing when police started looking for him. He recently appeared again on social media, this time asking for a "mega demonstration" on Monday. In his video message, he wore army clothes. He wants people across Zimbabwe to march against President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He blames the president for stealing money and running the country badly.
Police named Geza a wanted person back in February. They said he broke laws about respecting the president. Police spokesman Paul Nyathi asked everyone to stay peaceful. He warned that officers would watch for any trouble. Experts disagree about whether many people will show up. Some think most citizens feel tired of politics and see unclear goals in these protests. Others point to anger about money problems that might push people into the streets.
Geza claimed several opposition leaders backed him, including Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti, and Job Sikhala. Chamisa quickly denied any connection and said he never talked with Geza about protests. The main war veterans group also pulled away from Geza's plans. A different war veterans faction led by Andreas Mathibela hasn't said anything yet. The main group's speaker, Cornelius Muwoni, claimed they only heard about Geza's ideas online.
Security sources believe police added more patrols as safety measures. They think these protests come from fights inside the ruling party rather than real public concerns. One insider suggested the demonstrations might help one ruling party group hurt its rivals instead of fixing citizens' problems. With just days left before the planned protests, party fights seem more important than what regular people need.
A security official said Zimbabwean citizens become chess pieces in political games that ignore their basic needs. Experts predict few people will answer Geza's call based on past failed protests. Professor Stephen Chan from London thinks war veteran splits and opposition division will keep numbers low. He warned that violent police action might accidentally create more support for Geza. He advised the president to let small protests happen peacefully and then point out how few people joined.
Political expert Eldred Masunungure noticed many feel upset about the economy but lack energy for mass action like in the 1990s. He said real uprisings happen without warning and give police no time to prepare, unlike these announced protests. Masunungure suggested that Geza should have asked people to stay home instead of facing dangerous police forces in the streets. He added that opposition parties seem almost dead and cannot bring people together anymore.
He believes war veterans alone cannot change things. Any group hoping for success needs regular citizens to join them, like what happened in November 2017. But he doubts many Zimbabweans will answer Geza's call this time. Kudzai Mutisi, another political commentator, agreed the protests will fail. He said those asking for protests lacked organization and popularity. They have no clear plan to run Zimbabwe better. He claimed no trustworthy opposition voices exist in the country anymore because they fight among themselves and cannot bring people together against President Mnangagwa.
