Heavy police forces filled Zimbabwe cities Monday as shops stayed shut. Officials warned people not to join protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The plan came from members of his political party who wanted him out of office. Mnangagwa took control through military action eight years ago.
Security teams walked through downtown areas after telling citizens to ignore calls from a group inside Mnangagwa's ZANU-PF party. A few brave souls tried to gather at President Robert Mugabe Square in Harare, but cops quickly broke up their meeting. Videos across social media showed the scene unfolding.
"They promised we could march peacefully, but police already started hitting people," one protester told CITE media online. "We refuse to leave...I'll stay right here, even if death comes, for my children's future," she added in a video that spread across internet platforms. The demonstration plans came from an experienced ZANU-PF member after some party leaders tried to keep Mnangagwa, age 82, running the country past 2028.
"We started the job of removing Mnangagwa already," Blessed Geza declared on social media last week. Geza hides from the authorities after the party kicks him out. Downtown Harare looks empty, as the main street is deserted. Many store owners remove items from display windows as schools cancel classes and taxi drivers stop working completely.
"Nobody walks around," one man told reporters in Harare but asked to stay anonymous. Fear spreads because of rumors about these protests." Bulawayo, the second-biggest city, showed the same emptiness. Major stores locked their doors as police rode horses or drove vehicles through nearly vacant produce markets that normally buzzed with shoppers.
Critics accuse Mnangagwa and his leadership team of stealing money and making terrible decisions. These actions created massive economic problems across this southern African nation. The government also crushed political opposition through harsh methods. Geza leads veterans who fought for independence back in 1980. His group wants Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to replace Mnangagwa. Chiwenga, a former military general, helped plan the takeover that removed former leader, Mugabe.
Security teams walked through downtown areas after telling citizens to ignore calls from a group inside Mnangagwa's ZANU-PF party. A few brave souls tried to gather at President Robert Mugabe Square in Harare, but cops quickly broke up their meeting. Videos across social media showed the scene unfolding.
"They promised we could march peacefully, but police already started hitting people," one protester told CITE media online. "We refuse to leave...I'll stay right here, even if death comes, for my children's future," she added in a video that spread across internet platforms. The demonstration plans came from an experienced ZANU-PF member after some party leaders tried to keep Mnangagwa, age 82, running the country past 2028.
"We started the job of removing Mnangagwa already," Blessed Geza declared on social media last week. Geza hides from the authorities after the party kicks him out. Downtown Harare looks empty, as the main street is deserted. Many store owners remove items from display windows as schools cancel classes and taxi drivers stop working completely.
"Nobody walks around," one man told reporters in Harare but asked to stay anonymous. Fear spreads because of rumors about these protests." Bulawayo, the second-biggest city, showed the same emptiness. Major stores locked their doors as police rode horses or drove vehicles through nearly vacant produce markets that normally buzzed with shoppers.
Critics accuse Mnangagwa and his leadership team of stealing money and making terrible decisions. These actions created massive economic problems across this southern African nation. The government also crushed political opposition through harsh methods. Geza leads veterans who fought for independence back in 1980. His group wants Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to replace Mnangagwa. Chiwenga, a former military general, helped plan the takeover that removed former leader, Mugabe.
