A planned national protest aimed at pressuring Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign turned into a shutdown, as citizens chose to stay away rather than take to the streets due to a heavy security presence.
The demonstration, led by a group of war veterans accusing Mnangagwa of corruption and clinging to power, saw only a handful of protesters participating before being dispersed by the police.
Following reports of a low turnout, protest leader Blessed Geza took to X (formerly Twitter), urging Zimbabweans “not to be cowards.”
Mnangagwa, who took office in 2017 after a coup against longtime leader Robert Mugabe, is currently serving his second and final term. However, concerns over a reported plan to extend his tenure to 2030 have fueled discontent.
Videos circulating on social media showed police using tear gas to disperse a crowd gathered at President Robert Mugabe Square in Harare. In another clip, a woman described the police’s crackdown on what she called a “peaceful protest,” vowing, “We’re not going anywhere, we’re going to stay here.”
A small group of demonstrators could also be heard chanting, “We don’t want the 2030 agenda,” in response to the ruling Zanu-PF party’s suggestion that Mnangagwa could stay in power beyond his current term, despite the constitutional two-term limit.
One protester, a 63-year-old woman on crutches, told local media: “Life is tough. I am taking care of my grandchildren because my children cannot afford to.” She added her support for Vice President Constantine Chiwenga as a possible successor.
Despite the call for mass protests, businesses and schools shut down in cities and towns across Zimbabwe, and public transport was scarce. Many heeded warnings that demonstrations would not be tolerated.
Mnangagwa’s supporters have promoted the slogan “2030 he will still be the leader,” despite his recent assurance that he intends to step down in 2028 when his term officially ends. However, skepticism remains high.
Geza, a veteran of Zimbabwe’s war of independence and former senior Zanu-PF member, has been vocal in his opposition, frequently using fiery language in press conferences to demand Mnangagwa’s resignation.
As tensions rise, the future of Zimbabwe’s leadership remains uncertain.
